Regulating the silver coin for the common good
A practical treatise arguing for clear standards and safe guards to protect trade, reduce coin debasement, and strengthen public finances.
It lays out definitions of intrinsic and extrinsic value, and explains how current money issues affect daily life, government, and the economy.
Written as a call to Parliament, it outlines the dangers of clipping, hoarding, and inconsistent coinage the author fears could undermine the realm’s wealth and wartime footing. The work weighs the consequences of letting the coin drift from its intrinsic value and offers a framework for stabilizing money while keeping trade open and fair.
- Clear definitions of coin value and the difference between intrinsic, extrinsic, and face value
- Arguments about the effects of silver coin shortages on trade, taxation, and national security
- Proposals for regulating coinage, hoarding, and counterfeiting without crippling the economy
- Discussion of policy choices during wartime and how money policy interacts with commerce
Ideal for readers interested in monetary history, 18th‑century political economy, and how coinage policy aimed to support the nation during a time of war.