HC Deb 21 May 1900 vol 83 c731
MR. MACLEAN

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India whether any progress has been made with the introduction of a gold currency into India beyond the limits of the Presidency towns; and whether frequent demands are made by the people of India for the coinage of large amounts of silver money in addition to the rupees already in circulation

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA (LORD G. HAMILTON, Middlesex, Baling)

According to the latest report, the amount of gold coin issued from the treasuries up to the 15th of May was £872,003, but I have no information as to the extent to which those sovereigns have been sent into the interior of the country. A large amount of gold has been imported into India, and of this gold a considerable number of sovereigns had been presented at the Treasury to be exchanged for rupees. This has necessitated fresh coinage.

SIR HENRY FOWLER (Wolverhampton, E.)

Has the coinage of sovereigns begun in India?

LORD G. HAMILTON

Not yet.