Thus the weight of the gold coins is as follows :

(5.) The silver subsidiary coinage is only legal tender to the amount of 20 crowns in two-crown and one-crown pieces, and to the amount of 5 crowns in smaller silver coins. The standard weight and fineness of silver coins, with their respective remedies, are regulated by the following table:

The bronze subsidiary coinage is only legal tender to the amount of 1 crown. The standard weight of bronze

(6.) The Mints receive gold bullion for coinage, which is returned in coin to the importer, less a deduction of 1/2 per cent. if he be paid in twenty-crown pieces, and of 1/3 per cent. if he prefer ten-crown pieces. Silver bullion is purchased by the Government only, and is issued, as already seen, as subsidiary coin at a value above its intrinsic worth.

(7.) Gold coin ceases to become legally current relative to the State funds when reduced by abrasion more than 2 per cent. below standard weight; relative to private funds, etc, when reduced more than 1/2 per cent. below standard. Practically, therefore, the loss falls on the State, as coin reduced considerably below the least weight for general currency is still accepted by the State funds at its full value.

Subsidiary coin ceases to be legal tender of payment with regard to the State funds when it no longer admits of identification as to the country by which it was issued; relative to all other parties when the inscription is disfigured or indistinct. Each country is moreover obliged to remelt all coins issued by it which have ceased to become current under the above rules except in payment of Government dues, and also all silver coins reduced more than 4 per cent. below their standard weight.

(8.) The subsidiary coin is distributed to any applicant in exchange for gold coin, to any amount divisible into sums of 10 crowns, at the State bank and its branches. Other offices for this purpose are appointed by special regulations.

(9.) All coining is done by the established Mints of the different countries, and can under no circumstances be undertaken by a private person. The Mints are under the immediate superintendence of the Government.

The coinage of Portugal has, since 1854, in which year the gold standard was adopted, been regulated as follows*:

(1.) The sole standard of value is gold.

(2.) The unit of value is the reis.

(3.) The standard fineness of gold coin is 916 2/3 per mille. The remedy of fineness of gold coin is 2 per mille.

(4.) The standard weight of gold coin is 17.735 grm. for the coroa, or com of 10,000 reis. The remedy of weight is 2 per mille.

(5.) The silver subsidiary coin is only legal tender to the amount of 5000 reis.

The standard fineness of silver is 916 2/3, and the remedy is 2 per mille.

The standard weight of silver coin is such that 50 tostoes (or pieces of 100 reis) weigh 120 grammes. A tostao therefore weighs 2.5 grm., and contains 2.29 grm. of fine silver. The remedy of weight is 2 per mille.

The law of 1854 assigns no weight to the copper coins.

(6.) The charge for the coinage of gold is 1000 reis per kilogramme, or rather more than 1/6 per cent. Silver and copper coins are issued exclusively by the State.

(7.) There are no legal provisions as to worn coin. Practically, however, the loss falls on the last holder.

(8.) " No issue of silver or copper coins can be made without the amount being in advance fixed by law." There seem to be no provisions as to the distribution of subsidiary coin.

(9.) The coinage takes place at the " National Mint," which is under the management of Government officers.

The following are the coinage regulations of Japan :

(1). The sole standard of value is gold.

(2.) The unit of value is the yen.

(3.) The standard fineness of gold coin is 900 per mille. The remedy of fineness is 2 per mille.

(4.) The standard weight of gold coin is such that the yen contains 1 1/2 grm. of fine gold.

The following table gives the standard weight and remedy for gold coins :

(5). We have been unable to find the limit beyond which subsidiary coins cease to be legal tender.

The following table gives the standard fineness and weight, with their respective remedies, of the silver coin :

The weight of the copper coins is as follows :

(6.) There is a charge for coinage. •

(7.) No least current weight is specified by the Japanese coinage law. Worn coins are received for recoinage by weight, the loss in this respect, and also the cost of recoinage, falling upon the last holder. Subsidiary coins are replaced at the expense of the Government.

The Empire of Morocco appears to use gold as the standard of value; the fineness of the gold coin is 900 per mille.

We proceed to an account of the monetary systems of those countries which still maintain a double standard. Of these the most important are the parties to the Convention of the 23rd December, 1865, generally known as the "Latin Convention." France, Italy, Switzerland, and Belgium were originally the only contracting parties, but Greece also acceded to the Convention on the 26th September, 1868, and Spain, by an Act of the same year, without at once joining herself with the other countries, assimilated her coinage to that authorised by them. The monetary laws of these six countries, therefore, fall under one head, with the exception that the Spanish coinage is not conducted by contract, but by salaried officers of the Government.

(1.) Both gold and silver are standards of value, the relation of gold to silver being estimated at 15 1/2 : 1.

(2.) The unit of value is the "franc" = the Italian "lira" = the Greek "drachma" = the Spanish peseta."