asked the Minister for Finance whether he will state what estimates he has made of the total face value and the actual bullion value, respectively, of all the British silver coins (a) in present circulation in Saorstát Eireann; (b) in the hands of the Currency Commission, and (c) in the hands of the Minister, and/or of any other person or agency on his behalf, or otherwise.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Value of British Silver Coins in Saorstát.
As regards (a), reliable statistics are not available of the amount of British silver at present in circulation in Saorstát Eireann, but it has been conjectured that this amount may be about £1,500,000 in face value, this figure including such coin held in the banks.
As regards (b), the present face value of the British silver coin held by the Currency Commission on the 28th February, 1929, was £230,300.
No coin is held by any other agency or person on my behalf.
The bullion value of the British silver coins in either of these categories cannot be stated in the absence of accurate information as to the extent to which the coins involved were minted before or after the Coinage Act, 1920.
Arising out of this reply and the reply which he gave to the previous question, may I take it that the Minister now proposes to allow £1,000,000 worth of British token currency to circulate in this country?
No.
Will the Minister explain then what he proposes to do with the £1,730,000 worth of British token coinage which is now either in circulation or in the hands of the Currency Commission? Does he propose to permit £1,500,000 worth of British token coinage to circulate in the country?
No, it will not be necessary.
What is going to become of it?
That is another matter.
When a Deputy is looking for information he will not get it.
How much of the £229,700 of the new coinage is at present actually in circulation?
So far as I know, all of it is.