Catalogue description Royal Mint: Coinage: Imperial (Silver Recoinage 1696)

Before the introduction of machinery for making milled coins in 1662, all the coins were hammer-struck. By 1695, the hammered silver money had become reduced in weight by clipping and this was having an impact on trade. It was decided to recall it all and to introduce an entirely new coinage of milled pieces. An Act of Parliament was passed for that purpose in 1695, and in 1696, another Act was passed to provide for the setting up of mints in Bristol, Chester, Exeter, Norwich and York to assist with the recoinage.

These were organised on a similar basis to the London mint, each of them having as their four principal officers a Deputy Warden, a Deputy Master and Worker, a Deputy King's Clerk and a Deputy Comptroller. The clipped moneys were demonetised in short stages as a result of a proclamation of 19 December, 1695 and all silver moneys, whatever their condition, which had been struck before the introduction of machinery for the making of milled money, were demonetised from the 1st December, 1697.