"Bimetallism: Its advantage, and what we suffer by the loss of it"

The pros and cons of bimetallism have been debated world-wide, and "Bimetallism: Its advantage, and what we suffer by the loss of it", by H. R. Beeton, Being an address delivered at the invitation of the Bristol Committee of the Bimetallic League, in the Lesser Colston Hall, Bristol, on 18th April, 1895 is an example of a talk given in Great Britain on the subject that was published by Effingham Wilson of London. Mr. Beeton starts his speech by stressing the importance of a reliable and meaningful monetary system with the words "We are met this evening to consider the justice and expediency of a Reform of the World's Money. You may, perhaps, think this is rather a large order, and you may naturally ask what the world's money has to do with us. But I hope to be able to show you that this nation is deeply concerned with the world's money, because, in the first place, there is no political institution upon which the welfare of Society more depends than upon Money, and, because, in the second place, with a commerce which extends to the uttermost ends of the earth, whether we like it or not, the world's money is our money...".

In economics, bimetallism is a monetary standard in which the value of the monetary unit is defined as equivalent both to a certain quantity of gold and to a certain quantity of silver; such a system establishes a fixed rate of exchange between the two metals. The defining characteristics of bimetallism are that both gold and silver money are legal tender in unlimited amounts, and that the government will convert both gold and silver into legal tender coins at a fixed rate for individuals in unlimited quantities. This is called free coinage because the quantity is unlimited, even if a fee is charged.

The address, including an appendix containing data on the relative values of gold and silver, is contained in a 28 page booklet bound in paper covers. The booklet measures approximately 5 ½ x 8 ¼ inches. The pages are very lightly tanned and the text is clear and easily read. The overall condition of the item is very good.

The illustrations above show the booklet's cover, the first page of text, a typical 2-page spread of text, and a 2-page spread of charts from the Appendix.