The Royal Mint to Crown Agents.
Gentlemen,
4th January 1901.
96
In reply to your letter of the 28th ultimo, I am directed by the Master of the Mint to suggest that the arrangements to be made for the future supervision of coinages required for the Government of Hong Kong, when carried out at Birmingham, might stand over until a fresh requisition is made by that Government.
The Master of the Mint understands that the Secretary of State has under his consideration the question of having these coinages executed at one of the Indian Mints, which would obviate the necessity of any arrangements being made in this country.
With regard to the third paragraph of Mr Blake's letter now under reply, the Master of the Mint considers that it would not be prudent to discontinue inspections of bronze and nickel coinages carried out at Birmingham, otherwise there would be no check on discoloured and badly executed pieces being included in the shipments.
It might be desirable that the Secretary of State should consider whether the Assay Office already in existence at Birmingham for the hall-marking of plate might not be conveniently utilised for the supervision of Colonial coinages executed by Messrs Heaton on future occasions, if only for the selection of pieces to be forwarded to this Department for examination.
I am,
(Sd) Horace Seymour.
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