Modern COINS. In England the current species of gold are the guinea, half-guinea, seven-shillings piece, Jacobus, laureat, angel, and rose noble; the four last of which are now seldom to be met with; having been most of them converted into guineas, chiefly during the reign of Charles II. and James II. The silver coins are the crown, half-crown, shilling, and sixpence. Copper coins are the farthing, half-penny, penny and two-penny pieces.
In Scotland, by the articles of the Union, it is appointed that all the coins be reduced to the English, and the same accounts observed throughout. Till then the Scots had their pounds, shillings, and pence, as in England; but their pound was but 20 pence English, and the others in proportion: accordingly, their merk was s. Scots, current in England at d.; their noble in proportion. Besides these they had their turner pence and half-pence; their penny of that of England: besides base money of achifons, babees, and placks. The bodle of the penny, of the achifon, of the babe, and of the plack.
In Ireland, the coins are as in England, viz. shilling, pence, &c. with this difference, that their shilling is but equal to d. sterling: whence their pound is only 18s d.
But, for a view of all the coins presently current in the four quarters of the globe, with their values and proportions, see the table subjoined to the article MONEY.
In many places shells are current for coins; particularly a small white kind dug out of the ground in the Maldives, and some parts of America, called in the Indies cowries or coris, on the coast of Africa bonges, and in America porcelaines; of which it takes a vast number to be equivalent in value to a penny. Of zimbis, another kind of shell current, particularly in the kingdoms of Angola and Congo, two thousand make what the negroes call a macoute, which is no real money; for of this there is none in this part of Africa, but a manner of reckoning: thus, two Flemish knives they esteem a macoute; a copper bason two pounds weight, and 12 inches diameter, they reckon three macoutes; a fufee 10, &c.
In some places fruits are current for coins. Of these there are three sorts used; two in America, particularly among the Mexicans, which are the cacao and maize; the other in the East Indies, viz. almonds brought thither from Lar, and growing in the deserts of Arabia. Of cacao 15 are esteemed equivalent to a Spanish rial, or seven pence sterling. Maize has ceased to be a common money since the discovery of America by the Europeans. Almonds are chiefly used where the cowries are not current. As the year proves more or less favourable to this fruit, the value of the money is higher or lower. In a common year 40 almost are set against a pescha, or halfpenny sterling; which brings each almond to of a farthing.