HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, with the advice of the Executive Council, has been pleased to direct that the following Order of Her Majesty in Council, passed on the 22nd October, 1856, to legalize the currency of Australian Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns in Ceylon and elsewhere, be published for general information.
| By His Excellency's command, | |
| Colonial Secretary's Office, | C. J. MACCARTHY, |
| Colombo, July 15, 1857. | Colonial Secretary. |
| At the Court at Windsor, the 22nd day of October, 1856. | |
| Present: | |
| THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT. | |
| Viscount Palmerston, | Lord Stanley of Alderley, |
| Mr. Labouchere, | Sir George Grey, Bt. |
WHEREAS there was this day read at the Board, the Draft of a Proclamation declaring the rates at which certain Gold Coins to be called Australian Sovereigns and Half Sovereigns which have been and are intended to be struck at Her Majesty's Branch of the Royal Mint at Sydney in New South Wales are to pass current in Her Majesty's Colonies of Ceylon, Mauritius, and Hong Kong. Her Majesty having taken the same into consideration, was pleased by and with the advice of Her Privy Council to approve thereof, and to Order, and it is hereby ordered, that the said Proclamation do take effect and come into force in each of Her Majesty's said Colonies and Possessions, upon and from and after the promulgation thereof, by the Governors, or Officers Administering the Government of the said Colonies, respectively. And the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, and the Right Honourable Henry Labouchere, one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, are to give the necessary directions therein accordingly.
WM. L. BATHURST.
VICTORIA R.WHEREAS by an Order in Council, bearing date the 19th day of August, 1853, We have thought fit to order that a Branch of Our Royal Mint, should be established at or near Sydney in New South Wales. And whereas in the 18th year of Our Reign, by an Order in Council, dated the 18th day of October, 1854, We have thought fit to order that certain pieces of Gold Money should be coined at the said Branch of Our Royal Mint, to be called respectively Australian Sovereigns, and Australian Half Sovereigns, and to be of the same respective weights, fineness, and values, with the Sovereigns, and Half Sovereigns, now current within this Our Realm.
And whereas, pursuant to and in virtue of the powers given in Our said Orders in Council, it is provided, that a coinage of the said Australian Sovereigns, and Half Sovereigns shall be made, and that every such Australian Sovereign, shall have for the obverse the Effigy of Her Majesty, with the Inscription " Victoria D. G. Britannia : Regina F. D. " and the, date of the year, and for the Reverse the word" Australia ", placed in the centre of the piece, encircled by a Laurel Wreath, and surmounted by the Royal Crown, with the Inscription" Sydney Mint, One Sovereign", and with a graining on the edge and that every such Australian Half Sovereign, shall have the obverse in every respect similar to that of the Sovereign, and for the Reverse the same word" Australia" in the centre, encircled and surmounted in like manner, but for the Inscription the words" Sydney Mint, Half Sovereign", and a graining on the Edge.
And whereas pieces of Gold Money have been and will be coined at Our said Branch of the Royal Mint in pursuance of Orders issued and to be issued, We therefore by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, have thought fit to issue this Our Royal Proclamation, and We do Ordain, Declare, and Command, that the said pieces of Gold money so to be coined shall be current and lawful money within Our Colonies of Ceylon, Mauritius, and Hong Kong, and shall pass and be received as current and lawful money therein by the names aforesaid, and at the values herein before assigned to them.
Given at Our Court at Windsor, this Twenty-second day of October, in the Year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Fifty-six, and in the Twentieth of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN
(The Ceylon Government Gazette No 3,044 of 1857 July 25)
Ceylon Currency British Period 1796-1936 By B. W. Fernando, APPENDIX B.
1939, Colombo; Ceylon Government Press p38-39
Contents Next APPENDIX C
Coins of Lakdiva, Ceylon and Sri Lanka since 300 BCE.