§ SIR DAVID SALOMONSasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, If his attention has been called to the worn condition of the half-crown pieces now in circulation, and to inquire whether it would not be for the public convenience for the Mint authorities to make a fresh issue of that useful coin?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am far from denying the use or value of two-and-sixpences; but my hon. Friend must not extract from that the admission that the half-crown is a useful coin. It is a coin which has been condemned since 1851, since which time no new half-crowns have been issued. It is manifestly inconvenient to have two large silver coins, such as the florin and half-crown, with only 6d. difference between them. Therefore it is not my intention to issue any more half-crowns, and if I could I would accelerate the process of their disappearance. All I can say is, that I hope they may be what is generally called "garbled." in greater numbers than hitherto at the Bank of England, so that they may be gradually broken up and destroyed.