The Trial of the Pyx was a public trial or test of the purity
of gold and silver coins that began in the thirteenth century and continued into
the present day. In 1982 Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Geoffrey Howe,
chancellor of the Exchequer, attended the Trial of the Pyx in celebration of a
custom marking its seven-hundredth anniversary. The oldest extant writ ordering
a trial came at the behest of Edward I in 1282. Although similar tests were
conducted at regional mints, the most meticulous and thorough tests were held
for coins struck at the Royal Mint in London.
To conduct a trial a specified sample of coins of each denomination was set
aside and stored in leather bags identified by the month of coinage. In 1485 a
sample consisted of 10 shillings from every 10 pounds of gold and 2 shillings
from every 100 pounds of silver. These leather bags were put in a chest, or pyx,
hence the name “Trial of the Pyx.” The pyx was locked with three keys, one held
by the warden of the mint, a second by the comptroller, and a third by the
master-worker. The crown could call for a trial every three months, but the
trials were much less frequent.
To conduct a trial, the officers of the mint appeared before the Council in
Star Chamber, together with the lord treasurer’s clerk and officials of the
Exchequer who brought the contracted specifications for the weights and fineness
of coins. The pyx (or pyxs) was unlocked before the Council.
The Trial of the Pyx has always made use of the most advanced methods for
assaying gold and silver, beginning in the earliest times with the use of the
touchstone. A public jury of 12 lawful citizens and 12 members of the
Goldsmith’s Company of London actually conducted the public testing. If the jury
held the coins to meet the prescribed standards, based upon the fineness of the
bullion sent to the mint by the Crown, the master-worker received a letter of
acquittance. If the coins fell short of the required weight and fineness, the
master paid a penalty to the Crown proportionate to the profits the master
skimmed off by reducing the purity of the coinage. Of course, the king was never
brought before a public jury to test the purity of the precious metal he sent to
the mint. Presumably the mint master assured himself of the purity of the metal
supplied by the king.
The custom of the Trial of the Pyx bore witness to the ever-present danger of
debasement of the coinage, either at the hands of the Crown, or at the hands of
dishonest mint officials. The longevity of the custom stood as a reminder of the
importance certain groups in society, particularly merchants and bankers, placed
on the trustworthiness of the coinage. The Trial of the Pyx helped the English
Crown control the temptation to debase the currency, contributing to England’s
reputation for sound currency and laying the foundation for England’s commercial
success.
See also:
References:
Challis, C. E. 1978. The Tudor Coinage.
Davies, Glyn. 1994. A History of Money.
