THE BLUNDERS OF THE MINT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1645, 25 August 1887, Page 3

THE BLUNDERS OF THE MINT.

(London Paper.) Our new coins, It is do exaggeration to B%y, are an artistic failure, while they leek tha useful qualification of declaring their own value. la point of utility, therefcre, they will be found wanting ; and though tbe Chancellor of the Exchequer says he has received no complaints, confusion is spreading. We have heard of several Instances of tradespeople flatly refusing to tako the new money, which is iv itself a commendation of its appearance. If the sixpence gets into the hands of any persona Ingenious enough to gild them they may prove very dangerous colna. Another trep 1b suggested by the similarity of the fourshiUlng piece to the crown ; and it will ba profitable to remember that 8t George and the Dragon continues to be the distinguishing mark of the latter. In evo r y respect we look to, design, workmanship, fiulah or usefulness, the new money chows a falling off. Cheap procenes are underctond to have had much to do with the failures—none of the dies being engraved by hand aa of old. The laugh raised m Parliament over the crown toppling from the Qieen's head will be echoed through tbe land ; and it is, to Bay the least, extraordinary that the year which hat witnessed a thorough reform m the direotion of rendering the value of every postal stamp dear and distlnot should have brought about the opposite result with our coinage, No numismatic knowledge surely is noeded to deolde every piece of money should bear, not only the Image and superscription of tbe Sovereign upon it, but alio Hi own ; worfchi