CO129-331 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 301

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19 SEP 05

MEMORANDUM.

On the importance to be attached to the con-

tinued use of the British Dollar in China.

The popularity of the British dollar in the

north of China may be attributed entirely to the

practical immunity from tampering or counterfeit se-

cured to it by its superior workmanship and high

finish. The native of the north, where foreign

trade and the use of what may be called the foreign

dollar, are of comparatively recent date, is not

Its

an expert in the detection of spurious coin.

frequent occurrence in the case of the Mexican dollar

has exposed him to constant loss, and the well struck

British dollar was consequently welcomed from the

first, wherever it had not to contend with deep-

rooted custom and vested interests.

The case of a spurious British dollar has never

come within my experience. The coin passes from

hand to hand by tally alone without the application

of