Transcription

THE MINT FEBRUARY 1856
 
From the first issue of coin in June 1855, to the end of December that year, the amount in Sovereigns and half sovereigns was £512.500. During January of the present year the issue was £255.000 sovereigns. During the month of February, ending yesterday, 19,000 sovereigns, and 16,000 half sovereigns: making a total issue, during the first nine months of the operation of the establishment of coin amounting in value to £965.500. This result must surprise the those who predicted that the Mint would be an expensive toy, and who, when Captain Ward estimated the revenue to be derived from it at £5000 for the first year,  ridiculed the idea, and declared that they would be surprised if the coining operations paid their bare expenses. The amount of revenue, however, which was realised during the first nine months was, in round numbers, £5407. Showing an excess (in place of predicted decrease) upon the estimate for 1855 of £407. The estimate of revenue derivable from the Mint during the current year is set down at £14,000 but when from the amount of gold coined (as Shown above) Since the 1st of January to the 29th of February the revenue amounts to £4.000 it may not be presumptious [presumptuous] to expect that the calculation is based upon a Sound Calculation.

SYDNEY BRANCH OF THE ROYAL MINT
The following are the regulations for the receipt & [?] of gold at the Sydney Branch, of the Royal Mint.
1.  Importations from one thousand ounces standard, upwards, subject to a charge of three quarters per cent for converting the same into coin.  
     2. Importations below this will be [?] at the charge of one per cent. 
     3. The value of the bullion will be determined on the reports of the Mint assayers 
     4.  Importations will be melted, if preferred, in the presence of the importer.
          The importer will also be furnished, on demand, with a clip for assay from his own ingot, as a check on the reports of the Mint assayers.

COMMISSIONERS OF GOLD MINING  1856

Commissioners Western Gold fields.   W. Johnson, Engr.

                          Southern Gold fields.   William Ervington                                                                King Engr.
Assistant Commissioner. Harold McLean. Thomas Digby Miller,  James H. Griffin, W. Bowrie,  Charl. King, New England  James Buchanan [?]
Sub. Commissioners H. Johnson, Escort Officer,
P.L. Cloote, Engr.
 

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