Coffeehouses.—­Coffee, which takes its name from the Abyssinian province of Kaffa, was introduced into this country in the early part of the 17th century, the first coffeehouse being opened in London in 1652.  Until very late years coffeehouses in provincial towns were more noted for their stuffy untidiness than aught else, those of Birmingham not excepted, but quite a change has come o’er the scene now, and with all the brave glitter of paint and glaring gas they attempt to rival the public-houses.  The Birmingham Coffeehouse Company, Limited (originally miscalled The Artizan’s Clubhouse Company), which came into existence March 27, 1877, with a capital of L20,000 in 10s. shares, has now near upon a score of houses open, and their business is so successful that very fair dividends are realised.

Coffins.—­Excluding textile fabrics and agricultural produce, Birmingham supplies almost every article necessary for the comfort of man’s life, and it is therefore not surprising that some little attention has been given to the construction of the “casket” which is to enclose his remains when dead.  Coffins of wood, stone, lead, &c., have been known for centuries, but coffins of glass and coffins of brass must be ranked amongst the curiosities of our later trades.  Two of the latter kind polished, lacquered, and decorated in a variety of ways, with massive handles and emblazoned shields, were made here some few years back for King Egbo Jack and another dark-skinned potentate of South Africa.  “By particular request” each of these coffins were provided with four padlocks, two outside and two inside, though how to use the latter must have been a puzzle even for a dead king.  The Patent Metallic Air-tight Coffin Co., whose name pretty accurately describes their productions, in 1861 introduced hermetically-sealed coffins with plate glass panels in the lid, exceedingly useful articles in case of contagious diseases, &c., &c.  The trade in coffin “furniture” seems to have originated about 1760, when one ingenious “Mole” pushed it forward; and among the list of patents taken out in 1796 by a local worthy there is one for “a patent coffin,” though its particular speciality could not have met with much approval, as although some thousands of bodies have been removed from our various sepultures nothing curious or rarer than rotten boards and old lead has been brought to light.

Coinage.—­So far had our patriotic forefathers proceeded in the art of making money that about the middle of the last century it was estimated over one half the copper coin in circulation was counterfeit, and that nine-tenths thereof was manufactured in Birmingham, where 1,000 halfpennies could be had of the makers for 25s.  Boulton’s big pennies were counterfeited by lead pennies faced with copper.  One of these would be a curiosity now.  The bronze coinage was first issued December 1, 1860, and soon after Messrs. Ralph Heaton & Sons made 100 tons of bronze coins for the Mint.  They are distinguished by the letter “H” under the date.  The number, weight, and value of this issue were as follows:—­