CHAPTER XIX.

Increasing debasement of the coinage--Punishments for counterfeiting--Birmingham coiners--Boulton refuses orders for base money--Executes a contract for coin for the East India Company--Applies the steam-engine to coining--Improves the coining apparatus--Political action in relation to base coin--Strikes model coins for inspection of the Privy Council--Opposed by the Mint authorities--Presents model coins to the king--Executes coinage orders for foreign governments--His success--Medalling--Description of the Soho mint--Large consumption of copper in coining--Threatened attack on Soho by a mob--Boulton executes the new copper coinage for Great Britain--Erects the new Government Mint on Tower Hill, and mints for foreign countries--Watt’s estimate of Boulton’s improvements in coining 386–399