The Use of Metals in the Rusty State

The Romans had no coined money, but made use of unstamped bars of copper to purchase whatever they had occasion for. The use of metals in this rude state was attended with two very considerable inconveniences. All must always have been liable to the grossest frauds and impositions. To prevent such abuses it has been found necessary to affix a public stamp upon certain quantities of those particular metals. Hence the origin of coined money and of those public offices called mince. They are institutions of the same nature as those of the all-nuggers and stamp masters of woolen and linen cloth.