*
R+R.
J.J27/1
CONFIDENTIAL
xx
BANK OF ENGLAND
Threadneedle Street
London
EC2R 8AH
26th January 1978.
601
J.Jasper, Esq.,
Hong Kong and General Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
Downing Street,
London,
SW1A 2AL.
1.
Dear Jevery
Dependent Territories:
tka
102/1
RECEIVED ***
27 JAN 1978
NO. 51
REGISTKY
ÏAction Taken
J.J. &
DESK OFFICER
INDEX
PA
Numismatic Coin Survey
Richard Chalmers and I have now completed our analysis of the material provided by the Survey itself and from other sources, and our report is enclosed. Eight other copies of the report (and of this letter) are also enclosed, as you will doubtless wish to circulate them to the territorial Departments concerned, to the Financial Relations Department, and to HMT. You may also like to have copies available for your legal advisers. I am myself sending a copy of the report to Henry Emden of the Royal Mint for information.
2.
The report has unfortunately taken somewhat longer to prepare than was originally expected. As you will recall, it was agreed that the Bank should undertake the survey at a meeting at the FCO on 1st February last. The questionnaire was subsequently drawn up in consultation with you and despatched to the territories concerned around the end of March. Except for Bermuda, there had been no response by end-May, when reminders were sent out. It was not until August that sufficient answers had been received to justify a start on a detailed analysis and, to date, we have had no reply from St.Helena. However, we did not consider it worthwhile delaying matters further on their account, as it is unlikely that the experience of St. Helena would affect the overall picture significantly. Subsequently we asked the Royal Mint to look at a draft of the report, as I informed you, and we have only recently had their comments.
3.
I make no apologies for the length of the report, which is designed to give as full an understanding of the background to both numismatic and circulatory coin issues as was felt necessary to explain and justify the conclusions set out in Section 9 and the courses of action proposed in Section 10. As the report explains, these proposals are put forward as a basis for the discussion of guidelines that HMG may wish to issue in the light of the varying circumstances in individual territories.
4.
Originally it was our intention that a summarised version of the survey results should be circulated to those territories which had contributed, subject to our respecting any confidentialities. The Falkland Islands' reply was under confidential cover, and, unless this was intended to apply only to the plans for the 1977 programme, we must assume that all reference to the Falklands should be omitted from any sections of the report given general circulation. Subject to this and