Coins, weights, and measures of British India

by James Prinsep

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1834 ... architect Captain W. N. Forbes, Bengal Engineers, on the last day of March, 1824, on alluvial ground gained from the river, at an average depth of 25 feet below the level of Clive street, or 26§ below the floor of the mint, so that there is more brickwork below the ground than above it. The architecture is Grecian Doric, the central portico towards the Strand being a copy, on half dimensions, of the temple of Minerva at Athens. The whole was completed in six years. The machinery comprises five steam-engines, viz. two of 40 horse, one of 24 horse, one of 20, and one of 14 horse the coining presses are capable of striking 300,000 pieces in. a working-day of seven hours'. The steam machinery; the circular cutting presses, the-milling and the coining apparatus, are by Bolton and the rolling mills and fine rollers, the lathe-lap and clam for turning the rollers, and the triturating mills, are by John Rbnnib; while the pouring machinery and furnaces of the gold, silver, and copper melting-rooms were constructed by Maudslay. The whole cost of the new mint up to the 30th April, 1833, has been 24 lakhs of rupees, of which 11 lakhs are for the machinery and 13 lakhs for the buildings. The monthly expenditure, when in full work, may be stated in round terms at 18,000 rupees. '..... The following references apply to the figures in the engraving where there was not space to insert the names at length. 1. Mint Committee's office. 16. Boiler room. '-2. Gold refinery.. 17. Steam engine, 40 horse. 3. Silver refinery.. 18. Steam engine, 24 horse..,,' 4. Assay workshops. 19. Lap and lathe room. 5. Principal entrance. 20. Coal store. '" '6; Head assistant's office. 21. Adjuster's office. 7. Die multiplying room. 22. Oil-shaking room. 8. Store for coak. ...

34 pages, Paperback

Published May 19, 2012