§ MR. W. F. D. SMITH (Westminster)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the coinage of five-shilling and four-shilling pieces is to be continued, and whether he can state if any representations have been made by retail traders as to the inconvenience of these coins.
§ * THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir M. HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The coinage of double florins has been discontinued since 1891. Those remaining in circulation are in course of withdrawal. No representation as to the inconvenience of crowns is recorded as having been received at the Mint or the Treasury. Only a very small proportion of the silver pieces issued is in crowns. In 1899, out of an issue of 32,129,100 of such pieces, only 159,100 were crowns. It is not proposed to discontinue their issue.