§ 54. Sir CHARLES OMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are being sold at the British Empire Exhibition official fac-similes of the London silver penny of King Alfred the Great, only differentiated from the original by the insertion under the King's bust of 1924 in microscopical figures; and whether he will cause these coins to be differentiated from the original by some marked modern addition or sign, as otherwise the small date will certainly be scratched out by unscrupulous persons and the coins foisted on collectors as originals, which they closely resemble in size, metal, and type?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am looking into the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member.
§ Sir C. OMANWould the right hon. Gentleman be surprised to hear that the French Mint, which makes many "restrikes" of ancient pieces, always sees that they are either of a different metal or of a different size from the originals?