§ Mr. FIELDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the issue of George V. specimen coins, Case A, contained no crown piece, although the price charged for the same was greater than in a similar issue of the late King Edward VII.; and, if so, why was the additional charge made?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIt is the case that the sum of £10 was charged for sets both in 1902 and 1911, although, as the hon. Member points out, the nominal value of the coins included in a set was 5s. less in 1911 than in 1902. The production of specimen sets of new coins involves extra labour and trouble at the Mint, the cost of which cannot be very precisely estimated in advance. For this reason, and in view of the convenience of a round sum, the price of £10 was adhered to, and I am not in a position to say that this price could safely have been lowered.