(Gold being then to silver in relative value about 12:1 instead of about
15:1 as now, one-fourth has to be added to the values based on silver in
equations with the gold coin of the period, and one-fifth to be deducted
in values based on gold value. By oversight, in vol. i. p. 87, I took 16:1
as the present gold value, and so exaggerated the value of the livre
Tournois as compared with gold.)
M. Natalis de Wailly, in his recent fine edition of Joinville, determines
the valuation of these livres, in the reign of St. Lewis, by taking
a mean between a value calculated on the present value of silver, and a
value calculated on the present value of gold,[2] and his result is:
LIVRE TOURNOIS = 20.26 francs.
LIVRE PARISIS = 25.33 "
Though there is something arbitrary in this mode of valuation, it is,
perhaps, on the whole the best; and its result is extremedy handy for the
memory (as somebody has pointed out) for we thus have
One LIVRE TOURNOIS = One Napoleon.
" " PARISIS = One Sovereign.
VENETIAN MONEY.
The MARK of Silver all over Europe may be taken fairly at 2l. 4s. of
our money in modern value; the Venetian mark being a fraction more, and the
marks of England, Germany and France fractions less.[3]
The Venice GOLD DUCAT or ZECCHIN, first coined in accordance with a Law of
31st October 1283, was, in our gold value, worth ... 11.82 francs.[4]
or English ... 9s. 4.284d.
