Steam, hot air, and small change
Matthew Boulton and the reform of Britain's coinage
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4826558 |
|---|---|
| Authors | George Selgin (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2003 |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 478-509 |
| Publication date | 2003-08-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The Economic History Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0013-0117 • E-ISSN: 1468-0289 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1468-0289.2003.00259.x |
| OpenAlex | W2042519206 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 5 |
This article challenges the claim that Great Britain solved its 'big problem of small change' (the problem of keeping decent low-denomination coins in circulation) by embracing Matthew Boulton's steam-based coining technology. Evidence from Great Britain's commercial token episode (1787-97) shows that a successful small change system depended, not on the motive power employed in coining, but on the quality and consistency of coin engravings and on having means for systematically withdrawing worn coins. The Tower Mint failed to solve Great Britain's small change problem, not because its equipment was old-fashioned, but because its policies and constitution were flawed
Archaeology · Bureaucracy · Coining (mint) · Constitution · Economic history · Economics · Economy · Political science · Politics · Steam engine · Engineering · Historical Economic and Social Studies · History · Law · Mechanical Engineering
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,09 |
| Citation span | 2004 - 2019 (16) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |