"In the margin opposite this ordinance there is insertion of the words 'Doubles ou Liards,' thus showing decisively that with us in Guernsey a Double was a Liard, and a Liard a Double. In France, however, in ancient coinage a Liard was the fourth part of a Sou, and a Double intrinsically held of slightly higher value. We have kept the value of the Double to be the same as that of the Liard—that is to say, our Guernsey half-penny is quatre doubles, and our penny huit doubles.'"
SILVER COUNTERMARKED GUERNSEY CROWN.
The only silver coin for Guernsey was the Spanish Dollar, overstruck or countermarked as follows:—
O. BISHOP DE JERSEY & CO. = The arms of Guernsey within a double circle.
R. BANK OF GUERNSEY, 1809 = TOKEN OF | FIVE | SHILLINGS, in three lines—wreath of oak. Specimens of this countermarked coin are now very rare. The one in the Leycester Sale, of June, 1888, lot 189, sold, together with the Jersey 3s. Tokens, for £3 10s.; and a higher price still has been more recently obtained.
Respecting this coin, the Viscount of Jersey [Le Gros] writes to me, under date 21st September, 1893:—
"The firm of Bishop de Jersey & Co., who issued the token in question in 1809, carried on the business of bankers in Guernsey under the style of "The Guernsey Bank." This Bank was in existence for about ten years in the beginning of the present century, and was, I am told, the first to issue paper money (£1 notes) in Guernsey. It came to grief, however, after this short time.
"There are descendants of Mr. Bishop still living in Guernsey.
"'Mon Plaisir' is the name of the family estate of the Guernsey family of de Jersey, of which the partner in the Bank of that name was a member.
"Bishop and de Jersey are two distinct family names, both belonging to Guernsey."