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<blockquote data-quote="nerfherder" data-source="post: 1866185" data-attributes="member: 18305">In the middle ages 'clipping' of the coinage - that is cutting bits off the edge of silver or gold coins to melt down, was a common practice, and counterfeiters risked draconian punishments. In Germany the penalty was boiling in oil, in France breaking on the wheel, and in Russia molten lead was poured down their throats.&nbsp; In 1587 a thief from Knutsford, called Harvey, was hanged and quartered for the crime of clipping, and his body parts displayed on the four gates of Chester.By the late 17th century the coinage in England was in a dreadful state. Clipped money was the rule, and a silver piece of full weight was a rarity. They were hoarded in expectation of appreciating in value, melted down for their intrinsic worth or even exported to France or Holland. Tests of silver coins by the Exchequer in 1695 revealed losses of between 40% and 50% in their weight.Information from <a href="http://users.eggconnect.net/michaelgreatorex/money.htm" target="_blank">http://users.eggconnect.net/michaelgreatorex/money.htm</a>Cheers,Liam</blockquote>

[QUOTE="nerfherder, post: 1866185, member: 18305"] In the middle ages 'clipping' of the coinage - that is cutting bits off the edge of silver or gold coins to melt down, was a common practice, and counterfeiters risked draconian punishments. In Germany the penalty was boiling in oil, in France breaking on the wheel, and in Russia molten lead was poured down their throats. In 1587 a thief from Knutsford, called Harvey, was hanged and quartered for the crime of clipping, and his body parts displayed on the four gates of Chester. By the late 17th century the coinage in England was in a dreadful state. Clipped money was the rule, and a silver piece of full weight was a rarity. They were hoarded in expectation of appreciating in value, melted down for their intrinsic worth or even exported to France or Holland. Tests of silver coins by the Exchequer in 1695 revealed losses of between 40% and 50% in their weight. Information from [url]http://users.eggconnect.net/michaelgreatorex/money.htm[/url] Cheers, Liam [/QUOTE]

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