3-047-029 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sketches in the Bank of England: entrance to the bullion vaults, 1872. 'The Bullion Office, from which is taken the subject of one of the Illustrations in this week's paper, is situated in a separate courtyard on the north side of the Bank, towards Lothbury...The Office consists of a public hall, with the treasury and weighing-room, and two strong vaults the one for the deposit of bullion, free of charge, unless weighed, for the public convenience; the other for the private stock or reserve of the Bank. The gold is kept in bars, each weighing 16 lb., and worth about £800; the silver is kept in pigs and bars and in bags of dollars. The amount of gold coin and bullion in the Bank last week exceeded £20,000,000 in value. This treasure, with the amount due from her Majesty's Government to the Bank, which was £11,000,000, and with £4,000,000 other securities, is held in the Issue Department to constitute the assets legally required for the guarantee of the bank-notes in circulation, their amount being over £35,000,000'. From "Illustrated London News", 1872.