... I take the opportunity of sending you five different coins, which all pay current in this Island. What is extraordinary the government half penny will not pay here for more than two liards or a farthing and they will take any of the provincial half pennies for acceptance of their value, a French Sol ...
... The least is called un liard de France. The next in size two liards or a farthing. The large one as un Sol or a half penny in value. I send you two of two liards pieces, one of which is a new copper piece sent here by the friendly people of Birmingham. On each coin I would wish to have the arms of Jersey, (which I send enclosed) struck on one side, and on the other, I should like to have Mont Orgueil Castle - an ancient castle in this Island, and very picturesque - a sketch of which I'll do myself the honor of sending as soon as possible.
On the smallest coin - the three leopards of one side - and - Liard de Jersey , put on the other in the manner - Liard de France - is put on the one. I now have the honor to send you will be sufficient.
On the next livre I would also have put under the leopards deux Liards de Jersey - and on the largest in the same manner - un Sol de Jersey - under the castle - Mont Orgueil its' name.
For a motto - if there is room round the leopards
Mon Dieu, mon Roi, ma Patrie (in English: My God, my King, my Homeland)
Or Une Foi, un Roi, une Loi
(in English: One faith, one King, one Law)
But before the matter is taken in hand, I should be glad to know what expense will attend such coinage.
The letter was forward to Matthew Boulton, the owner of the Soho mint. Boulton wrote that he had no objection to strike them. He also detailed the cost and profit for minting these pieces. As we now know, these proposed tokens were not struck. It is interesting to note that Charles William was most probably a relation of Henry de Jersey who with Charles Bishop had the famous Guernsey Bishop de Jersey Five Shilling token minted. |
