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England, and five pieces of eight;^[1] Thomas Teackle of Accomac, four pounds sterling in Spanish coin;^[2] Thomas Tomson of Lancaster, five pounds;^[3] and Jacob Walker of Elizabeth City, twenty-one.^[4] The inventory of Peter Cartwright included twenty-three pounds sterling in Spanish coin, an Arabian gold piece, and half a gold pistole. Among the effects of William Chichester of the same county were eight pounds sterling and four lion dollars.^[5]

The increase in the volume of coin in circulation by the end of the century is shown in the vast number of specialties which at this time were made payable in money sterling, a precaution which meant, in many cases, that only the amount of tobacco representing the figures named should be delivered, but more frequently that the specialties were to be carried out as they stood, the person under bond being required to meet his obligation in specie. The only preference allowed him was the alternative of settling in English or Spanish money.^[6] It was directed

1. Records of Rappahannock County, vol. 1677-1682, p. 16, Va. State Library.
2. Records of Accomac County, original vol. 1692-1715, p. 140.
3. Records of Lancaster County, original vol. 1690-1709, p. 59.
4. Records of Elizabeth City County, vol. 1684-1699, p. 489, Va. State Library.
5. Records of Lower Norfolk County, original vol. 1695-1703, f. p. 106; Ibid., Chichester, p. 150. Fitzhugh, writing to Colonel Brent under date of Feb. 25, 1687, said, “I send you by this messenger one guinea and twelve pieces of eight.” Letters of William Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh speaks of this as being his entire stock of ready money except one piece of eight.
6. Records of Elizabeth City County, vol. 1684-1699, p. 100, Va. State Library. The debt was sometimes required to be paid in New England coin, as the following instance preserved in Records of Middlesex County, original vol. 1673-1685, p. 135, shows: “Judgment granted to John Pickworth, Benj. Pickworth and Richard Hudson against Mrs. Margaret Bridge, administratrix of Mr. Francis Bridge, for ye sum of 43£ 16^sh New England money, together with interest for said money according to ye obligation.”