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The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896

by William Arthur Shaw

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Appendix VI

The Monetary System of France

The metric system on which the French Mint was worked throughout the period treated of in this work up to the Revolution was as follows:—

1 mark= 8 oz.
″= 64 gros. (8 × 8).
″= 192 dens. (64 × 3).
″= 4608 grs. (192 × 24).

An alternative subdivision of the ounce was as follows:—

1 oz.= 20 esterlings.
″= 320 mailles (20 × 16).
″= 640 felins (320 × 2).

For the alloy or standard the mark was thus subdivided:—

For gold mark = 24 carats each subdivided into 32 parts.
For silver mark = 12 dens. each subdivided into 24 grms.

In France fine gold was only refined to 23 26⁄32 carats, and fine silver 11 deniers 18 grs. In calculation the absolute fineness of 24 carats and 12 deniers must be used.

The system of reckoning was as follows:—

1 livre= 20 sols.
1 sol.= 12 den.
1 den.= 2 oboles.
1 obole= 2 pites.
1 pite= 2 semipites.

The reckoning by livres, sols., deniers was derived from the Frankish kings. For a time the system of reckoning by the mark threatened to replace it, but in 1313 it was again authorised by Philippe le Bel.

The origin of the difference between the livres Tournois and the livres Parisis is to be sought in the feudal Mint franchises of the barons. At one time there was a difference between the two systems of 25 per cent., the barons who had the right of minting preferring to do so at Tours, or according to the Tours weight, which was the more depreciated of the two, while at Paris the French kings attempted to keep up a tradition of a better weight standard.25

The distinction of livres Tournois and livres Parisis was maintained until the days of Louis XIV., when (1667) it was abolished, and the reckoning by a single livre, sol., denier, was established. (For the intermediate experiment of Henry III. see text p. 87.)26

The monetary system of Charlemagne was the precursor and source of the chief currency systems of mediæval and modern Europe, with the exception of Spain. It was itself an imitation of the system of the Eastern Empire.

Its basis was the libra or pound, which occurs in two forms—(1) the gold pound, (2) the silver pound. Under the first race of the French kings the monetary divisions of the former were—

1. The gold solidus, a name which gave birth to the Spanish and Italian soldo and the French sol. (sou).

2. The third of the gold solidus (Triens or Tremissis).

Of the latter the aliquot parts were—

1. The silver solidus.
2. 1⁄3 silver solidus (Tremissis).
3. The denarius.

1 gold solidus = 3 1⁄3 silver solidi = 40 denarii.
1 silver solidus = 12 denarii

Under the system of the Eastern Empire the gold solidus had weighed 85 1⁄3 grs. and under the Merovingian Kings 70 1⁄2 grs. Under the rule of the Second House a considerable alteration took place. Charlemagne adopted for the basis of his system the East Frank or Rhenish libra, which was one-fourth heavier than the Roman libra adopted by the Merovings. His denarius accordingly weighed 32 grs. If ideally constructed the system, as far as silver is concerned, would be this—

12 denarii = 1 solidus.
20 solidi = 1 libra.
32 × 20 × 12 = 7680 grs. = 1 libra.

As far as the more precious metal is concerned, the gold solidus was, as a matter of fact, hardly to be met with under the second race. But, theoretically, it was still considered equal to 40 denarii.

40 × 32 = 1280 grs.
1280⁄12 = 106.6 grs. for the gold solidus.

But there are some actually met with containing 132 grs.

Sols d’or as a reminiscence of the first and second race are said to have still lingered in use at the commencement of the third race of kings. Under Philip I. they occur as francs d’or and florins d’or. In speaking of this latter term in the account of Florentine money (Appendix I. supra, p. 301), it has been pointed out as possible that it is merely the name for an ideal money, not an actual coin. (See however, preface, p. xiii.)

The actual reinstitution of gold monies in France has been already dealt with (text, p. 10). Of the species of the gold monies it would be almost an impossibility to speak.

Putting aside the disputed florin d’or, the first authenticated type of the gold monies was the aignel d’or or denier d’or a l’aignel, so called from the lamb (agneau = aignel), stamped on it. Under St. Louis, to whom it is first assigned, it weighed 3 deniers 5 grs., was of fine gold and worth 12 sols. 6 deniers Tournois.

Philippe le Bel, Louis Huttin, Philippe le Long, and Charles le Bel maintained this coin at the same weight and standard. Those of King John were of the same standard or fineness, but were slightly heavier, weighing 3 deniers 16 grs. Under Charles VI. and Charles VII. both weight and fineness were considerably reduced. Under the various names of agnels d’or, moutons d’or à la grande laine, moutons d’or à la petite laine, this species had currency in France for nearly two hundred years. The imitations of it in surrounding countries were almost numberless.

Royal (for the origin of the piece, see text, p. 10). Philippe le Bel minted petits royaux d’or fin, 70 to the mark and with an equivalence of 11 sols. Parisis. Gros royaux were the double of the petits royaux. Charles le Bel and Philippe de Valois struck royaux 58 to the mark. King John struck royaux or deniers d’or au Roial 66 and 69 to the mark, Charles V. 63 to the mark, and Charles VI. 64 and 70 to the mark.

Masses or chaises (cadieres, Royaux durs), were coined by Philippe le Bel, 22-carat fine and 5 deniers 12 grs. the piece. The chaises d’or of his successor varied greatly from these. Philippe de Valois coined them of fine gold, and 3 deniers 16 grs. the piece, and Charles VI. of fine gold 4 deniers 18 grs. the piece. Under Charles VII. the standard was reduced to 16 carats and the weight to 2 deniers 29 grs.

Of other early gold species it is sufficient to mention—

Reines,coined byPhilippe le Bel.
Florin George,″Philippe de Valois.
Parisis d’or,32 2⁄5to mark= 20 sols. Parisis.
Lion50to the mark.
Pavillon48″
Couronne45″
Ange or angelot33 2⁄5″
Denier d’or à l’écu54″

The last of these species (deniers d’or à l’écu) continued to be minted, and had wide currency through the reign of John up to their cessation in 1354. There was, however, great variation in the standard from fine gold to 23, 22 3⁄4, 21, and even 18 carats.

The reign of John was marked, 1361, by the commencement of the coining of the important franc d’or of fine gold, 63 to the mark = 20 sols. or 1 livre.

Its standard (of fine gold) was maintained under Charles V. and until Charles VII., but under the latter monarch the weight was reduced (to a tale of 80 to the mark).

Fleurs de lis d’or (or Florins d’or aux fleurs de lis) were first minted in 1365 by Charles V. They were of fine gold, and weighed exactly 1 gros. Being equivalent to the franc (i.e. equal to 1 livre or 20 sols.), it received the same name, being styled Franc à pied to distinguish it from the Franc d’or proper, which was styled Franc à cheval.

Saluts were first minted by Charles VI. in 1421 of fine gold, and of the same weight as the francs à cheval, but equal to 25 sols.

Couronnes or écus à la couronne were first coined by Charles VI. in 1384 of fine gold, weighing 3 deniers 4 grs. (i.e. 64 to the mark), and equal 22 sols.

This was the most celebrated gold coin of mediæval France. It lasted down to the time of the louis d’or, and was in high repute all over Europe.

Under Charles VI. and Charles VII. numerous changes were made in this piece both in weight and standard. At one time, under Charles VI., the standard fell as low as 16 carats. In 1436, however, they were again made of fine gold, but 70 to the mark, and issued at an equivalence of 25 sols. In 1455 they were issued 23 1⁄8 carats fine, 71 to the mark, and = 27 sols. the piece.

In 1473 Louis XI. issued them 72 to the mark; but two years later he began the issue of écus d’or au soleil (crowns of the sun), of the same fineness as the couronne, but slightly heavier (70 to the mark).

From the days of Charles VIII. the crown of the sun (écus d’or au soleil, also called écus au porc-epi) took the place of older crowns. Under Francis I. they were generally 23 carats fine and 71 1⁄6 to the mark, under Charles IX. 23 carats fine and 72 1⁄2 to the mark. At this latter they remained till the days of Louis XIV. The change of equivalence must be followed in the accompanying tables.

From the old écus à la couronne must be distinguished the écus heaumes, which were issued in small quantities under Charles VI., generally 48 to the mark and 22 carats fine.

Henris d’or occur only under Henry II., 23 carats fine, 2 deniers 20 grs. weight, and issued at an equivalence of 50 sols.

Louis d’or (see text, p. 91), first issued in 1640 under Louis XIII. in imitation of the Spanish standard; 22 carats fine, 36 1⁄4 to the mark, and = 10 livres. Standard and weight remained unchanged until 1709. See tables below for subsequent change.

Lis d’or have merely a transitory importance. They were issued in 1656 and shortly after, but almost immediately discontinued; 23 1⁄4 carats fine, 3 deniers 3 1⁄2 grs. the piece (60 1⁄2 to the mark) = 7 livres (to be distinguished as a third type from the fleurs de lys d’or of King John, and the separate fleur de lys d’or of Charles V.).

Silver Coins

The silver deniers of the first royal race of France averaged 21 grs. in weight. Under the second race a much heavier system was adopted, those of Charlemagne weighing 28 grs., and those of Charles the Bold 32 grs. At the commencement of the third race they were still of fine silver, and weighed about 23 or 24 grs. The process of diminution by alloy and in weight began under Philippe I. For the question of the existence of a silver solidus, see Le Blanc, Introduction, p. xii. If they ever existed their place as a large silver specie was at an early date taken by that of the gros Tournois (called also gros deniers d’argent, gros deniers blancs, and sols d’argent), attributed to S. Louis; 11 deniers 12 grs. fine, 7 grs. weight (58 to the mark), and issued at an equivalence of 12 deniers or 1 sol.

In the commencement, therefore, of this piece the gros Tournois was synonymous with the sol. Tournois. With the degeneration of the standard, however, the coin (the gros) parted company from the sol., which remained as a system of reckoning.

Up to the time of Philippe de Valois this money continued of undiminished weight and standard, and of the greatest celebrity. When that prince, in 1343, returned to good money after a period of debasement, he coined the gros Tournois 60 to a mark, of fine silver, and at an equivalence of 15 deniers Tournois. For its subsequent course, see tables infra. It is noticeable that while in weight and value the gros Tournois was frequently changed, in fineness no diminution was made.

Parisis d’argent, issued only by Philippe de Valois (of fine silver, 4 deniers in weight = 15 deniers Tournois or 1 sol. Parisis).

Testoons are to be regarded as the successors of the gros Tournois. They were first issued by Louis XII. in 1513; 11 deniers 18 grs. fine, 7 deniers 12 1⁄3 grs. weight, and = 10 sols. This species continued until its interdiction by Henry III. in 1575, who replaced them in that year by.

Francs d’argent, 10 deniers 10 10⁄23 grs. fine, 11 deniers 1 grain weight (or 17 1⁄4 to the mark), and = 20 sols. This piece continued until the days of Louis XIII.

Quart d’écus, also issued by Henry III., 11 deniers fine, 7 deniers 12 1⁄2 grs. weight, and = 15 sols. (i.e. a quarter the value of the écu d’or, then set at 60 sols.). This piece endured till 1646.

Louis d’argent, issued by Louis XIII. (see p. 402, Louis d’or), 11 deniers fine, 21 deniers 8 grs. weight for the écus blancs. This money continued till the Revolution.

Lis d’argent, issued for a few months in 1656, 11 deniers 12 grs. fine, 6 deniers 5 grs. weight, and = 20 sols.

Franc, modern (see text, p. 176).

The history of the French monetary system has been briefly told in the text, pp. 10, 31-40, 83-95, 167-197. The tables of the present Appendix afford particular information as to the course of the above-mentioned coins, down to the last great change in the French system. They bring out also, in strong relief, the numerous and arbitrary and excessive debasements which that system underwent in the Middle Ages. The particular episode of the eighteenth-century depreciation, which followed upon the erection of the system of John Law, may be, in brief, more appropriately sketched here than in the text.

The third of the three great recoinages of 1689, 1693, and 1703 had left the louis d’or tariffed at an equivalence of 15 livres, and the louis d’argent at 4 livres. By the end of 1708 these figures had sunk to 12 livres 15 sols. and 3 livres 8 sols. respectively. By the decree of April 1709 quite a different standard was adopted. The louis d’or was minted 32 to the mark, 22 carats fine, and = 16 livres 10 sols., while the louis d’argent was minted 8 to the mark, 11 deniers fine, and = 4 livres 8 sols. In the month of May 1709 a second edict raised these equivalences to 20 livres and 5 livres respectively. The sufferings of French commerce under this extraordinary tariff led to its annulling by the decree of 30th September 1713, by which a reduction of equivalence was made to 14 livres and 3 livres 10 sols. respectively. In December of the same year a reformation was again attempted. The new species were of the same content and fineness as the old, but were tariffed at 20 livres for the louis d’or, and 5 livres for the louis d’argent, while the unreformed specie were tariffed at 16 livres and 4 livres respectively. Three years later began the period of the monetary disorder of the minority of Louis XV. In November 1716 a new louis d’or was issued, 20 to the mark, 22 carats fine. In May 1718 again a new issue took place—louis d’or 25 to the mark, 22 carats; louis d’argent 10 to the mark, 11 deniers fine.

There were thus, at the time, four different louis d’or in existence, namely:—

The oldlouis d’or36 1⁄4to themark.
The oldlouis d’orof 170930″″
″″1715
″″171620″″
″″171825″″

And similarly three kinds of louis d’argents or écus:—

The oldlouisd’argent9to themark.
The oldlouisd’argent of17098″″
″″″1715
″″″171810″″

On the 25th July 1719 the Compagnie des Indes obtained the profit and farm of the French Mint for a term of nine years. The first outcome of their activity was the issue of the following tariff:—

Livres.Sols.Deniers.
Écu of 17185134
Louis d’argent of 1709718
Old louis d’or3400
Old louis d’or of 17092868

In the same year (1719, the first of their lease) this corporation further issued quite new species, namely, Quinzains d’or = 15 livres, and livres d’argent = 1⁄6-écu (both being cut at a tale of 65 5⁄11 to the mark). On the 5th March 1720 all the species were raised 41 3⁄11 per cent., the louis d’or of 1709 thus rising to an equivalence of 40 livres, and the louis d’argent of the same issue to 10 livres. On the 11th March 1720 the use of the gold specie was forbidden, and a recoinage determined on. These regulations, however, were not carried out, and by July the louis d’or had risen to 60 livres (= 1963 7⁄17 livres to the mark of fine gold), and the louis d’argent to 15 livres (= 130 10⁄11 livres to the mark of fine silver). The same enhancement prevailed in the divisional coin, and the confusion endured till the end of 1720. In September the louis d’or had fallen to 45 livres (= 1472 8⁄11 livres to the mark of fine gold), and the louis d’argent to 11 livres 5 sols. (= 98 2⁄11 livres to the mark of fine silver). At the same time (September) a new fabrication of species, according to the standard of 1718, was undertaken. Louis d’or, 25 to the mark, to issue at 54 livres; louis d’argent (or 1⁄3-écu), 30 to the mark, to issue at 3 livres. But from the 24th October a gradual diminution in this tariff was prescribed, and from the 1st of January 1721 these coins were to circulate respectively at 45 livres and 2 livres 10 sols. From the same date the louis d’or of 1709 was to circulate for 22 livres 10 sols., and the louis d’argent of 1709 for 5 livres 12 sols. 6 deniers.

On the 5th January 1721 the contract for coinage held by the Compagnie des Indes was annulled, and an intermediate attempt at reform was made in 1723, when the louis d’or was minted at 37 1⁄2 to the mark = 27 livres, and the louis d’argent at 10 3⁄8 to the mark = 6 livres 18 sols. The downward course of the specie set strongly in, and by 1726 they had fallen to 12 livres and 3 livres respectively. This facilitated the great reform and recoinage of 1726 (see text, p. 169). This recoinage was carried out on the basis of the edict of 1709—

Louis d’or, 30 to the mark = 20 livres. Louis d’argent, 8 to the mark = 5 livres.

By the edict of May of the same year their equivalence was raised 20 per cent.—the louis d’or to 24 livres, the louis d’argent to 6 livres.

TABLE OF THE FRENCH GOLD COINS.

(Up to 1689, from Le Blanc; 1690 onwards, continued from various sources.)

Date.Price of Mark of Gold.Species.Standard.Tale per Mark.Value.
Liv.Sol.Den.Sol.Den.
1226 (S. Louis)...AgnelFine gold59 1⁄6126
1295 (Philippe le Bel)...Gros royal......250
13054400Petit royalFine goldG70139
1308,April164400Chaise......250
1310,August1249100Masse22 carat34 1⁄2300
1310,January2255119AgneletFine gold59 1⁄6200
1312,August2455104.........150
1314 (Louis Huttin), August 25............200
1314,November2955100............
1315,May6...AgneletFine gold59 1⁄6200
″January154500.........150
1316 (Philippe le le Long), Easter3800.........126
December855100AgneletFine gold59 1⁄6200
1321 (Charles le Bel),
February205800AgnelH″59 1⁄6200
1322,October155369.........189
1325,February1667100Royal doubleFine gold58250
1329 (Philippe de Valois), Dec. 26...Parisis″33 2⁄5376
......Royal double″58226
1330, April 8 (poste monnaie)41130Parisis″33 2⁄5250
...Royal double......150
...Agnel......147
1331,January93900Royal......226
1332,April19............150
(Tournois)
1336,February15000ÉcuFine gold54200
1338,November145800Lion″50250
1339,May2561100............
″June146600PavillonFine gold48300
″August106900............
″June207100............
″February78200CouronneFine gold45400
″February158600............
1340,April169600DoubleFine gold36600
......Simple″72300
″May2710000Doubles23 carat30600
″October710800............
″January31114140............
″February711500AngesFine gold33 2⁄5750
......Demi anges...67 1⁄3...
1341,August2313000AngesFine gold38 1⁄3750
″January1913600............
1342,June2816800......42850
″September1617100............
″April1011700ÉcuFine gold54...
1343,September22............450
(Forte monnaie)4368.........168
1344,March274439............
1346,July175000ChaisesFine gold52200
″February247200............
″March4............300
1347,April67500............
″April144434ÉcuFine gold54168
″September277500ChaisesFine gold52300
″January1151100Écu23 carat54189
1348,August30......22 3⁄4 carat...200
″March1251153...22 carat...250
1349,May235216...21 carat...250
″December55300............
1350, April 22 (forte monnaie)............200
1350, September 1 (John I.)53189Écu21 carat54189
1351,June2054176...20 1⁄2 carat......
″July23......20 carat......
″August189600............
″August20...Fleur de LysFine gold50400
″September175650Écu20 carat54189
″September245826...18 carat......
″November206000............
″February 3 (forte monnaie)............150
1352,April2160189............
″May18............200
″January1860176............
″February3............376
1353,May1............400
″October 26 (forte monnaie)62164.........150
1354,November246000MoutonsFine gold52250
1355,June36150............
″June1962100............
″January 3 (forte monnaie)...Moutons......250
1356,November25...Moutons......300
″January256326″......250
1357,June15...Petits moutonsFine gold104126
1358,August3178150Royal″66250
″April2080126″″69250
1359, March 31 (forte monnaie)...″......400
1360, January 12 (forte monnaie)6000FrancFine gold63200
1361,April236000............
1363,July296100............
1364 (Charles V.), May 36200............
1364,August5...RoyalFine gold63200
″September10...Franc″63200
1365,May562100Fleur de Lis″64200
1381, (Charles VI.),.........
April2560100″″64200
1384,March1865100Écu à la couronne...60220
1386,August316600............
1387,February2866100......61 1⁄3226
1391,April86700............
1392,″167100............
1394,September56850......62226
1405,August868150............
1407,February116850............
1411,November77000......64226
″February12......23 11⁄28 carat......
″March570150............
1414,September67200............
1417,May179200Moutons23 carat96200
″October219600............
″″28......22 carat96200
″December99200Écu heaume″48400
1418,July29400............
″March715000Écu à la couronne23 carat64500
1419,June1814400Moutons...96300
″October24...Chaises or doublesFine gold40800
″February26171134Écu à la couronne...67500
......Moutons......268
Par.
1420,October27...Doubles22 1⁄4 carat40800
1421 (forte monnaie), April 267200Écu à la couronneFine gold66226
″November87650Saluts″63250
1422 (Charles VII.), January 20...Écu à la couronne22 1⁄2 carat64250
1423,May228400...Fine gold68250
″January28...Moutons22 carat96200
″February8...Franc à chevalFine gold80200
″July17900............
1424,August23...Écu à la couronne23 carat67226
″September28700......70250
″November3...Moutons22 carat96150
1425,October3...Écu à la couronne23 ″64250
″January1287100......70...
1426,August2710500............
″September1110800...22 carat70300
″October12.........72...
″January99000............
″January17......23 carat67226
″March19............250
1427,May277200.........200
″July19......21 carat72250
″August289000...22 ″70250
″October15...Moutons20 ″96150
″November208000Écu à la couronne20 ″70200
″February2192100...21 ″...200
1428,July3197100...20 ″...250
″October26...Moutons19 ″96150
″April8800Écu à la couronne18 ″70200
″March210500............
1429,June17......16 carat...250
″November 14 (forte monnaie)77100RoyalFine gold64250
1429,December7...Écu à la couronne22 carat67 1⁄2226
1430,July79700Chaises16 ″68200
″November9...Écu à la couronne22 ″64226
1431,May3077100RoyalFine gold64250
″September2710200......70300
″February9.........64250
″March24881110Écu à la couronne20 carat67 1⁄2226
1432,January1678150............
″December31...RoyalFine gold64250
1435,October14103100Écu à la couronne″70300
″February218650.........250
1437,September187100............
″November2292100...21 carat70250
1438,April308650...Fine gold70250
1443,November198736............
1444,December1787100...23 1⁄4 carat70250
1445,September248876............
1446,June18826Écu à la couronne23 3⁄4 carat70 1⁄2250
″January2197150...23 1⁄2 ″...276
1447,July279757 1⁄2...23 1⁄4 ″......
″October2797150...23 1⁄2 ″......
1450,June159900...23 1⁄8 ″......
″February39950............
1454,May1899100............
1456,June2610000......71...
1472 (Louis XI.), March 12............284
1473,June1810300............
″January811000......72303
1475,November2118100Écu au soleil23 1⁄8 carat70330
1487 (Charles VII.), July 30...Écu à la couronne......350
......Écu au soleil......363
1488,April2413034............
1497 (Louis XII.), April 713034Écu au soleil......363
1507,November24...Écu au porc épi......363
1514 (Francis I.), January 1...Écu au soleil......363
1516,November27...″......400
......Écu à la couronne......390
1517,May25...Écu au soleil......363
1519,June1014700...22 7⁄8 carat71 1⁄2400
″August18......23 ″71 1⁄6400
1532,March5............450
1539,February24...Écu à la salemand23 carat71 1⁄6450
1540,May1816576Écu à la croisette......450
1549 (Henry II.), January 2317200Henris23 carat67500
1561, (Charles IX.), August 3018500Écu au soleil23 carat72 1⁄2500
1569,November23............530
1570,August30............540
1572,July1............520
1573,June920000.........540
1574 (Henry III.) September 22............580
1575,June17............600
″May3122200.........600
″June1522200Écu au soleil23 carat72 1⁄2650
″November20............600
1602 (Henry IV.), September240100.........650
1615 (Louis XIII.), February 527866.........750
1630,February............800
1631,August............830
1633,July............860
1636,March5............940
″May832000............
″June28............1040
″September2238400............
1640,April3...Louis d’or22 carat36 1⁄42000
1652 (Louis XIV.), April 4............2200
1655,December23...Louis d’or23 1⁄4 carat60 1⁄21400
1662,July74231011............
1679,April1043798 1⁄2............
1686,July2943775Louis d’or......2300
1687,October2744772.........2250
(Pite)
1689,December10............2320
...Écu d’or......1200
1693514 1⁄1100Louis d’or......2600
1703584 1⁄400″......3000
1708...″......2550
1709,April57600″22 carat323300
″May654 6⁄1100″...304000
1713,September30...″......2800
″December...″......4000
1716,November......22 carat22...
1718,May...Louis d’or″25...
1719,July25927 3⁄1100″......6800
...1008150Quinzains d’or......3000
1720,March5...Louis d’or (of 1709)......8000
″March111963 7⁄1100Louis d’or......12000
″September1472 8⁄1100″......9000
......″...2510000
1721,January1...″......9000
1723...″...37 1⁄25400
1726...″...2400
″(Recoinage)678150″22 carat304000
″May74091″Raised 20 per cent...4800
......Écu......1200
1785,October 30 (recoinage)828120Louis d’or22 carat324800
1803,March283444 4⁄9 francs per kilog. fine = 3100 fcs. per kilog. 9⁄10 fine.40 and 20-franc piecesIssue price being 3434 4⁄9 per kilog. and 3091 per kilog. 9⁄10 fine.......
1830November8...100 and 10-franc pieces.........
1850...10-franc piece.........
1835,February25Mint change = 6 francs per kilog.............
″June30Issue price of kilog. of fine gold altered from 3434 4⁄9 fcs. to 3437 7⁄9 fcs.............

TABLE OF FRENCH SILVER COINS.

(From the same sources, extended as above, p. 408.)

Date.Price of Mark of Silver.Name of Species.Alloy.Tale per Mark.Value.
Liv.Sol.Den.Den.Grs.Sol.Den.
11440400............
11580534............
12070500............
12220500............
12260547Gros Tournois111258012
12830540............
12850546............
12930610............
1295...Petits Tournois91211606
1296, May 20380............
1297, July 43100............
1298, May 253150............
1299, June 73180............
1302, April 23480............
″ February 2540............
1303, August 15600............
1304, May 7650............
″ June 256140............
″ September 86150............
″ December 13750............
″ March 17100............
1305, April 188100............
1306, October 12156............
(forte monnaie)......
1308, April 162190Gros Tournois111258012
1310, January 20376Bourgeois Forte6018902
...Par.
1311, July 8351 1⁄2Bourgeois6037801
...Singles(Par.)
1313, June............01
...Tour.
″ September 192147Gros Tournois111258012
.........
...Denier Tournois31822001
......
......Denier Parisis41222101
...Par.
1314, November 29247............
1315, May 6...Denier Parisis41222101
...Par.
″ January 15240Denier Tournois31822001
...Tour.
1317, March 1376Gros Tournois111259 1⁄613
......Denier Parisis41228201
1321, February 20376Gros Tournois111259 1⁄613
1322, October 15389Denier Parisis318218...
″ March 2400Obole Blanche10011806
...Par.
1326, July 244100...9013508
...Tour.
″ January 20500............
1327 ″ 8580............
1328, November 75110............
1329, December 26440Gros Tournois......16
...Tour.
1330, April 82180″11126010
(forte monnaie)...Tour.
......Gros Parisis11124810
...Par.
1331, January 92176............
1333, June 122156Denier Parisis44138 1⁄2...
1336, February 133126Gros à la101696110
...CouronneTour.
1338, November 144120″8096010
″ January 3500............
1339, August 19500............
″ February 56150...70105010
″ April 6......60108010
1340, August 1700............
″ December 47100............
″ January 278140Gros à la Fleur608413
...de Lis...
″ February 8940............
″ ″ 139120...609513
1342, June 3012100...6012013
″ September 71300............
1343, April 913100............
″ September 229100............
......Gros Tournois11126039
″ October 26340.........13
(forte monnaie)......
1344, February 16380............
1345, April 93106............
1346, July 174100Double Parisis31818002
Par.
″ January 27500............
″ February 246150............
″ March 3......3021602
...Par.
1347, July 217100............
″ January 114160Double Tournois38183 1⁄302
...Tour.
1348, August 31500...31 1⁄3183 1⁄302
...Tour.
″ December 31600...21220002
...Tour.
1349, May 126130............
″ August 76150............
″ December 5770............
″ January 207150............
1350, April 23500Double Parisis31216802
(forte monnaie)...Par.
″ August 23550″2816802
...Par.
″ October 265120............
″ February 5600............
″ March 6680............
1351, May 176180Blancs41214406
...Par.
″ June 23780............
″ August 188150............
″ September 121000Blancs4014406
...Par.
″ October 1010100............
″ December 161100............
″ January 251200............
″ February 414120Gros Tour.4887 1⁄408
...BlancsTour.
″ March 27560............
(forte monnaie)......
1352, June 2...............
″ July 24620...4010008
...Tour.
″ August 166100............
″ October 246180............
″ November 25800...4012008
...Tour.
″ December 31900............
″ February 61000............
1353, April 221200...31214008
Tour.
″ July 3012150............
″ August 213150............
″ October 264150............
(forte monnaie)......
″ November 27......38 4⁄56508
...Tour.
″ February 5570............
″ ″ 175170............
1354, April 266150......9608
...Tour.
″ May 289120...3012008
...Tour.
″ July 510120............
″ September 71200............
″ November 24440Blanc à la388005
(forte monnaie)...CouronneTour.
″ January 234160...212......
″ April 4560...30120...
1355, May 206100...212......
″ July 67100............
″ ″ 171000Blancs à la Couronne397213
″ August 22......30......
″ August 261100............
″ September 2812100...3080...
″ October 91400...30100...
″ November 101600...212100...
″ December 151800............
″ January 3550............
(forte monnaie)......
″ January 5...Blanc à la Couronne8096010
″ ″ 16...Blanc à la Fleur de Lis406008
1356, August 36100...3090...
″ September 19750...30112 1⁄2...
″ October 288170............
″ November 23780Gros608010
″ ″ 28780Gros Blancs408010
″ February 7......30112 1⁄210
″ March 266100Gros à la Couronne5070010
1357, January 238100Blanc à la Fleur de Lis406013
1358, May 91000...38......
″ July 11200...3064...
″ August 813100...3096...
″ August 306150Blancs à la Couronne4053 1⁄310
″ November 1370075...
″ ″ 228003075...
″ December 38120...
″ ″ 99100...
″ February 22700309006
″ ″ 27...30100...
1359, April 20710030120...
″ May 2811100212150...
...Gros Blancs307213
″ June 5900Blancs aux trois Fleurs de Lis3127013
″ June 12...30...
″ July 9......
″ ″ 12...215...
″ ″ 31164021280...
″ September 18221302690...
″ October 5...112 1⁄2...
″ ″ 22298020120...
″ November 271200Gros à l’estoile404826
″ December 5150030...
″ ″ 191890...
″ ″ 3123126...
″ January 22412621260...
″ ″ 22341262072...
″ February 17...80...
″ ″ 2753176100...
″ March 477160112100...
″ ″ 2110200125...
″ ″ 311100Gros Blancs4064...
(forte monnaie)......
1360, April 27...30...
″ May 4...212...
″ ″ 26...20...
″ June 2700Blancs à la Fleur de Lis206406
″ ″ 27...8007 1⁄2
″ ″ 2890011280...
″ ″ 2910100...
″ August 71500100...
″ ″ 181700120...
″ ″ 2218100...
″ September 7700Blanc à la couronne4066010
″ October 22......212......
″ November 13800............
″ ″ 19900............
″ January 12580Blanc à la fleur de lis41254010
″ April 3500Gros Tournois11128413
(forte monnaie)......
1364, May 3500Gros d’argent11128413
1365, May 2550Blanc409605
1370, June 195150Gros d’argent113 1⁄49613
1372, August 95160...1117......
1374 ″ 12......116......
1378 ″ 19......1117......
1381, April 16580Gros d’argent1169613
″ August 155160............
1384, March 22...Blanc à l’écu6075010
1386, October 31......51274 1⁄2...
1389 ″ 305180...512......
″ July 4639...512...10
1391, April 8650............
1399, November 27680............
1401, July 26...Gros908113
1405 ″ 66126Blanc à l’écu5676 1⁄2010
1411, November 56150...5080...
1413, July 12700Gros d’argent111684 7⁄1218
1414, June 26720Blanc à l’écu5080010
1417, May 17800Gros808018
″ October 21900...58......
1418, May 289100............
″ January 191000............
″ March1400............
″ ″ 716100...38......
1419, February 17...Blanc2016805
1420, April 91800............
″ May 82600Gros21210018
″ February 11...............
1421, April 26700Gros d’argent111286 1⁄418
1422, October 307100Blanc41290010
1423, December 31700...5080...
″ March 10......6090...
1424 ″ 17...Blanc5080010
1425, June 9650Gros809010
″ August 17700Blanc4012805
″ January 237100Grand Blanc909613
“; March 16750Blanc5080010
1426, May 288100...40......
″ August 209100...38......
″ November 191100...3081...
″ January 11700...41272...
1427, August 26800...4080...
″ October 48100............
1428, July 311100...3081...
″ January 2413100...2884...
″ March 21500...20......
1429, May 4......118......
″ June 102000...112......
″ November 5700...508008
(forte monnaie)......
″ January 16700...5080010
1430, December 226150Gros1112120 3⁄413
1431, January 9750Blancs5080010
1432, April 11961............
″ August 229102Gros4186812
″ September 299160............
″ January 16750............
1434, May 28...Petit blanc4012805
1435, September 22900Blanc4080010
″ February 21700...50......
1436, May 24...Blanc à l’écu50......
″ April 21780............
1437, November 27900...38......
″ April 37100............
1440780............
14417100............
1447, July 7800Blanc à l’écu42182 3⁄4010
″ ″ 278100Gros d’argent11156826
...7100Blanc5090010
1456, June 268100″41281010
...8150Gros d’argent11126926
1465, July.........69 5⁄6...
...8100Blanc41281010
1473, January 81000......86011
......Gros d’argent11126929
1475, November 2...Blanc au soleil41278 1⁄210
1488, April 241100Blanc au soleil41278 1⁄211
1497 ″ 71100Blanc à la couronne4128610
1513 ″ 612100Testoons111825 1⁄2100
1514, January 11100Blancs4128610
″ February 1712150Testoons111825 1⁄2100
1519, June 1012100Blancs à la couronne4692 1⁄210
1521, September 201350Testoons11625 1⁄2100
1532, March 1............106
1539, February 2412100Blanc à la Salemand4692 1⁄210
1540, May 181400Testoons......108
1541 ″ 4...Douzains à la croisette31691 1⁄410
1547, March 31...Douzains...91 1⁄210
1549, October 2514100Testoons......110
″ January 231500.........114
1550, April 201450Douzains31293 1⁄210
1561, August 3015150Testoons1018 3⁄425 1⁄2120
1572, June 13...Douzains31210210
1573 ″ 91700Testoons......130
1575 ″ 17...″......146
″ May 311900Francs1010 10⁄2317 1⁄4200
″ ″17150Douzains3010210
1577, June 15...Testoons......160
″ November 20...″......146
1580, October 171900Quart d’écu11025 1⁄3150
1602, September2054″......160
″ ″...Franc......214
″ ″...Testoons......150
1636, May 823100............
″ June 28...Franc......270
″ September 222500............
1641, November 1826100Louis d’argent1108 11⁄12600
......
1652, April 4...″......660
1655, December 23...″111230 1⁄2200
1679, April 1029110″......600
1689, December 10...″......620
″ ″...Recoinage new species of Louis d’argent......660
1693, ″33160Louis d’argent......680
1703, December 1038 10⁄1100Louis d’argent......800
1709, April3880″1108880
″ May43 7⁄1100″...1000
1713, September 30...″...700
1718, May...Louis d’argent or écu11010800
1719, July 2561 9⁄1100.........1134
“...69 1⁄800Livres d’argent...65 5⁄11...
1720, September98 2⁄1100Louis d’argent......2350
......″(= 1⁄4 écu)30600
1721, January 1...″( ″ “)...500
1723,......″...10 3⁄81380
1726,...46180″...81000
1726, May5133″......1200
1785Silver coins unaltered............
1803Kilog. fine silver =222 2⁄8 Francs (218 8⁄9 Francs being returned to the importer)Franc.9005 grms. wght....
1835, June 30Kilog.fine silver =222 2⁄9 Francs (220 Francs being returned to the importer.)″″......
1865, Latin Union......Pieces under 5 Francs reduced to.835 fine

Footnotes

G See De Saulcy, Documents, i. 73, where it is stated that the fineness of these pieces was occasionally below 20 carats.

H 1 Edward III. 4496 florins of the lamb worth 3s. 10 1⁄2d. a piece = £871, 2s. sterling (Exchequer Q.R. Ancient Miscellanea, 624⁄3. Expenses of Adam, bishop of Worcester, going to Rome).

25 “En 1359 année de grandes secousses dans le prix du marc d’argent le public adopte comme unité l’écu d’or qui n’a pas varié.” Vicomte D’Avenel, Histoire de la propriété, etc., i. p. 54.

26 For an account of the remaining species of livres, all differing in value, and amounting to at least twenty in number, la livre de Provins, du Mans, de Bretagne, Languedoc, Dauphiné, Bourgogne, la livre Augevin, etc. etc., see Vicomte D’Avenel, Histoire de la propriété, etc., i. 37-39, 482-494.

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