Number of sovereigns enumerated 90,474 Number of half-sovereigns enumerated 75,036 ------ Total number 165,510 'At least one gold coin in every hundred now existing in this country was, on the average, enumerated; and, as there were 321 separate returns received from 213 distinct towns or localities, including almost every place of commercial importance, it may be allowed, I think, that sufficient data were acquired for determining the average character of the circulation.'--_Journal of the Statistical Society_, vol. xxxi., p. 439. Mr. Jevons' inquiry was, as he describes it, made in a private manner, but it was, beyond question, conducted most efficiently and thoroughly. And there is no reason to doubt that he has rather under-estimated than over-estimated the case when he states, that about 45 per cent. of the sovereigns and 62 per cent. of the half-sovereigns now in circulation in the country are lighter than the legal standard. If this statement appears excessive to any one, he can easily verify it for himself. He has only to go to his banker, in whatever part of the United Kingdom he may reside, and ask him to provide out of the gold in his till--out of the ordinary circulation of the locality--100 sovereigns of _full_ weight. Then, if he inquires how many sovereigns have been picked over to obtain this number, he will--within those reasonable limits of variation which every similar calculation is liable to--find that Mr. Jevons' statement gives a correct idea of the ordinary circulation.