January 8, 2024

The Royal Mint Records for the 1844 Issue

1844 One Thirteenth of a Shilling (click on image to enlarge)

In his book, "The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part 1, European Territories", Major F. Pridmore states that the mintage of the 1844 Jersey one thirteenth of a shilling as 27,040. The remaining issues have the following mintages: the 1841 with 116480, the 1851, 1858, and the 1861 all with 173333. This would make the 1844 the key of the series. Krause and other leading publications have repeated these numbers.

However, from the following Royal Mint correspondence (see the British Public Records Office MINT 1/39) we learn that that 2 1/2 tons of copper were used to strike the 1844 1/13th of a shilling generating a mintage of 145,600. Two tons of copper produced 232,960 1/26th of shilling coins. The total cost of production of the 1844 coinage was £583/13/9.

Initial Request for 1844 Coinage Page 283 MINT 1/39

A Further Request Page 302 MINT 1/39

An Estimate of Cost (Continued) Page 303 MINT 1/39

The Estimate of Cost Page 304 MINT 1/39

Initial Payment for Coinage Cost Page 306 MINT 1/39

Initial Payment for Coinage Cost (Continued) Page 307 MINT 1/39

Statement for Coinage Cost Page 352 MINT 1/39

Statement for Coinage Cost (Continued) Page 353 MINT 1/39

Final Payment for Coinage Cost Page 359 MINT 1/39

Final Payment for Coinage Cost (Continued) Page 360 MINT 1/39

Return to Part Three: Thirteen Pence to a Shilling - Queen Victoria Copper Issues