Remarks on the production of the precious metals: and on the demonetization of gold in several countries in EuropeFaucher, Léon
History
Remarks on the production of the precious metals: and on the demonetization of gold in several countries in Europe
Faucher, Léon
Bimetallism; Precious metals; Precious metals -- Europe
The like result is obtained from other channels of information. The
Mint of London, which ordinarily coins gold at the rate of about
£2,000,000 sterling per annum; and which, in 1850, had not coined
more than £1,492,000 sterling; in 1851, increased their operations
to the extent of a coinage of £4,200,000 sterling (above 105,000,000
of francs). The moiety of this gold must have come from California.
In the same year, the mint of Paris coined in gold [192]269,709,570
francs, of which about half was supplied by the conversion of
100,000,000 of Dutch Guillaumes into French money. In the accounts of
the German Mints, we find about [193]200,000,000 of Californian gold.
If we are to judge from the operations of our own mint, the import
of 1852 will be smaller than that of 1851; for we have coined but
14,000,000 pieces in gold during the first three months of this year.
Australia sends regularly large amounts of her gold to England; but
a part of the export of gold dust, or “nuggets,” is returned in gold
coin. Many vessels have lately cleared from London with £200,000
sterling; and this at a time when England had barely received £800,000
sterling, from Sydney and Melbourne. Considerable amounts will likewise
be imported in plate and jewellery. The more wealth increases in
the colony, the more gold will be employed both for circulation and
for luxuries. The producing country will be most certainly, _par
excellence_, the country of consumption. Europe contains 200,000,000
inhabitants, of whom not one-half are adequately supplied with metallic
money. It would require, certainly, an addition of many milliards of
francs to the quantity of the present metallic circulation, to put many
of these countries in an equally favourable position in this respect
with France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, and Great Britain. We
know, that only nations of industrious habits are in want of a larger
supply of gold and silver because they alone carry on trade to any
extent. Abundance of production precedes and gives rise to a demand
for money. Wealth must exist in a country before the sign of that
wealth is required; but, at the same time, it cannot be denied that
the circulation of the precious metals stimulates, to a great degree,
the creation of richness; it acts like roads, canals, or other modes
of transport, which, by opening the means of reaching markets, extend
the radius of operations, and give additional value to commodities. One
half of Europe has a trade of inconsiderable importance, and derives
but a small part of the benefit of the produce of its own soil. It has
neither industry nor credit. In many countries now, gold and silver are
replaced by the use of paper-money, often discredited in its own, and
in all cases valueless out of its own country.
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