Examination and Test of Coins.

21. For the purpose of ascertaining that coins of the currency of Canada issued from the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint have been coined in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Governor in Council shall nominate and appoint competent persons, not less than three, who shall meet at least once in each year, as assay commissioners, to examine and test, in the presence of the proper officers of the Ottawa Branch of the Royal Mint and of the officers attending pursuant to any regulations made hereunder, the fineness and weight of the coins reserved for this purpose.

(2) The Governor in Council may, from time to time, make regulations respecting the proceedings at and the conduct of such examination and test, and all matters incidental thereto, and in particular respecting the following matters, namely, (a) the time and place of examination and test;

(b) the setting apart out of the coins issued by the said branch mint of certain coins for examination and test; and the custody and production of the coins so set apart, and the production of the standard weights and trial plates hereinafter mentioned;

(c) the attendance of one or more officers of the Department of Finance and of one or more officers of the Department of Inland Revenue thereat;

(d) the recording and publication of the findings of the commissioners as the result of such examination and test, and the proceedings (if any) to be taken in consequence thereof.

(3) Every such regulation shall come into operation on the date therein in that behalf mentioned, and shall have effect as if it were enacted in this Act, but may be revoked or altered by any subsequent regulation under this section.

22. The Dominion standard troy ounce, made of platinum-iridium now in the custody of the Minister of Inland Revenue, shall be the standard for regulating the weight of such currency, and the Minister of Inland Revenue shall cause weights of each denomination of coin made under this Act to be made and duly verified, and these weights, when approved by the Governor in Council, shall be the standard weights for determining the Justness of the weight of and for weighing such coin.

(2) The Minister of Inland Revenue shall, for the purpose of such examination and test, procure such standard weights, multiples and divisions in weight of such standard troy ounce, and such balances as may be necessary for the purpose of such examination and test.

(3) The Minister of Inland Revenue shall from time to time, when necessary, cause trial plates of pure gold and of pure silver to be made and duly verified, and such trial plates shall be used for determining the justness of the gold and silver coins examined and tested under the provisions hereof.

(4) Such standard weights and trial plates shall, except as may be provided by any regulations made hereunder, be in the custody of the Minister of Inland Revenue, to be kept in such place and in such manner as the Minister of Inland Revenue may direct Expenses Incidental to Administration.

23. The costs, charges and expenses incident to the carrying out of the provisions of this Act, including the examination and test, procuring standard weights, trial plates and balances, shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

When Counterfeit or Diminished Coin to be Broken.

24. Every officer employed in the collection of the revenue in Canada shall cut, break or deface, or cause to be cut, broken or defaced, every piece of counterfeit or unlawfully diminished gold or silver coin which is tendered to him in payment of any part of the revenue of Canada.

Repeal.

25. The Currency Act, chapter 25 of the Revised Statutes. 1906, is repealed.