§ 7. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the unsatisfied public demand for crown pieces, more of these coins will be minted.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterPower to strike Coronation crown pieces lapsed on 31st December last. By that date all outstanding demands from the banks had been satisfied. A small surplus of a few thousand crown pieces is available at the Mint for issue to banks if asked for.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Financial Secretary aware that inadequate supplies of crown pieces, as well as of the proof sets of Coronation coinage, have presented dealers with a black market bonus? Would it not be worth while for the Mint to make some money instead of making farthings which cost a halfpenny each to produce?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterHad the hon. and gallant Member listened to my answer, he would have appreciated that anyone who made a black market bargain in these circumstances was singularly unwise, in as much as the Mint still has several thousand of these pieces available for anyone who likes to ask for them.
§ Mr. Edward EvansIs the Financial Secretary aware that there is an unsatisfied demand for most coinage today?