CO129-177 - Sir Kennedy Acting Governor Austin Lieut Governor Hennessy - 1877 [1-5] — Page 570

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

between Hongkong and Foochow "currency is a difficulty, and is to a great extent in the hands of the Bank compradores, who occasionally are not of however a highly respectable class of men and on the whole deal fairly and equitably with the public in receiving and making payments in coin. It would be most desirable, if it were possible, to have a fixed definition of what is a current Dollar in the Colony instead of depending on the opinion of any class of men, but this is one of the disadvantages of a "chopped" currency and I am unable to suggest a remedy.

Considering the question an impression may naturally arise that when payments are by weight it matters little to what extent the Dollars are "chopped" if they are so defaced at all; but apart from other considerations which suggest themselves, it is undoubted that chopped Dollars, such as are current in the South of China, known as "Foochow" Dollars are depreciated as to intrinsic value by the adhesion of a considerable amount of dirt, small paper labels, gum, and other matter to each coin which are of course weighed with the Dollars. In proof of this I give the following Mint out turns charge being at the same rate on both shipments referred to 40,000 nearly clean (i.e. unchopped) Dollars weighed at 717. shipped to Calcutta and there minted your out turn of Hc 231.4 per $100.

44.5″

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between Hongkong and Foochow "currency is a difficulty, and is to a great extent in the hands of the Bank compradores, who occasionally are not of however a highly respectable class of men and on the whole deal fairly and equitably with the public in receiving and making payments in coin. It would be most desirable, if it were possible, to have a fixed definition of what is a current Dollar in the Colony instead of depending on the opinion of any class of men, but this is one of the disadvantages of a "chopped" currency and I am unable to suggest a remedy. Considering the question an impression may naturally arise that when payments are by weight it matters little to what extent the Dollars are "chopped" if they are so defaced at all; but apart from other considerations which suggest themselves, it is undoubted that chopped Dollars, such as are current in the South of China, known as "Foochow" Dollars are depreciated as to intrinsic value by the adhesion of a considerable amount of dirt, small paper labels, gum, and other matter to each coin which are of course weighed with the Dollars. In proof of this I give the following Mint out turns charge being at the same rate on both shipments referred to 40,000 nearly clean (i.e. unchopped) Dollars weighed at 717. shipped to Calcutta and there minted your out turn of Hc 231.4 per $100. 44.5″ Page 570 Page 571
Baseline (Original)
22 25 568 between Hongkong and Foochow "currency is a difficulty, and is to a great extent in the hands of the Bank compradores, who occasionally They X-L are not of however a highly respectable class one mind thereon. of men and on the whole deal fairly and equitably with the public in receiving and making paymento in coin. It would be most desirable, if it were possible, to have a fiiced definition of what is a current Dollar in the Colony instead of deponding on the opinion an claso of any the disadvantages of I 5 but this is one of men, but this in of a " chopped" currency and am unable to suggest a remedy. In consi Considering the question üm impression may naturally aviez that when payments are by weight it matters little to what what extent the Dollars are chopped" if they are so defaced at all; batspant from other considerations which suggest themselver, it is undoubted that chopped Dollars, such an are current in the South of China, known as "Forchow" "Wollars are depreciated. asto intrinsie value by the adhesion of a considerable amount of dirt, small paper labels, gum, matter to each coin which and other are of course this weighed with the Dollars. In proof of the give following Mint out turns charge= being at the came rate on both whipments referred to 40,000 nearly clean (i.e. unchopped/Dollars weighed at 7.1. 7shipped to Calcutta and there minted your aw out turn of Hc 231.4 per $100. 44.5′′ Page 570Page 571
2026-05-21 16:39:12 · Baseline
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22

25

568

between Hongkong and Foochow "currency

is a

difficulty, and is to a great extent in

the hands

of the Bank compradores, who

occasionally They

X-L

are not

of however a highly respectable class

one mind thereon.

of men and on the whole deal fairly and equitably with the public in receiving and making paymento in coin. It would be most desirable, if it were possible, to have a fiiced definition of what is a current Dollar in the Colony instead of deponding on the opinion

an

claso

of any the disadvantages of

I

5

but this is one of men, but this in

of

a

" chopped" currency and

am unable to suggest a remedy.

In consi

Considering

the

question

üm

impression may naturally aviez that when

payments are by weight it matters little to

what

what extent the Dollars are chopped" if they

are so defaced at all; batspant from other

considerations which

suggest

themselver, it

is undoubted that chopped Dollars, such an

are current in the South of China, known as "Forchow" "Wollars are depreciated. asto intrinsie

value by the adhesion of a considerable amount

of dirt, small paper labels, gum,

matter to each coin which

and other

are of course

this

weighed with the Dollars. In proof of

the

give following Mint out turns charge= being at the came rate on both whipments

referred to

40,000 nearly clean (i.e. unchopped/Dollars

weighed at 7.1. 7shipped to Calcutta

and

there minted

your

aw out turn of

Hc 231.4

per $100.

44.5′′

Page 570Page 571

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