第5章 Chapter 3(2)

There did succeed a form of Money,wherein the impression did not only signify the fineness,but the weight also.This among the Romans was moneta,from when our name of Money is derived a Monedo:it is attributed to Servius Tullius,to have bin the first in Rome,to have stamped with an Impression a certain piece of Money which was called As (as being of Copper,and weighing a pound weight)and that he coyned lesser parts,distinguished by ounces:it was long after in the Consulat of Quintus Fabius,that the first Silver coin was made,called Denarius,because it was valued at ten As,and at the same time were made half and quarters of the Denarii,called Sestertii,marked LLs,to signifi duas libras cum semisse.The first Denarii were made of Sextula or six in the ounce:it was above threescore years after 'ere any Gold was coined,the first pieces were of such a weight as 40made a pound:which Example of the Roman Coins,I do not alledge as the first,for it is manifest,that both the Median,Persian and Grecian states did use Coins,which by their Impression did signify both the weight and fineness;but because they were the first,whereof I have any certain relation,and upon whose ground all these parts of the World have formed their Coins and made their divisions of weight.It doth now appear what Allay was mingled or what Tribute was charged in the first Roman moneys of Gold and Silver;by which word of Tribute,I do understand whatever was substracted out of the Intrinsical value of the Money,and allowed to it as an over-value towards the charge of Coinage,or right of Soveraignty,rated by the State,or what remedies were allowed for their weight and fineness;only it appeareth by their medals that they were cast in a mold.But after ages did grow to stamp their Coins finding how useful it was to have lesser coins than could well be cast in a mould,and also to avoid counterfeiting,which is with more difficulty in Coins stamped:and because it was hard to observe an exact proportion of weight,there was a certain remedy of grains,beyond which,if the pieces of Coin did not fall of their just weight,they were to be received of Officers appointed,otherwise they were rejected to be new coyned.There was a remedy of fineness,for when Allay grew to be mingled in the Coins,the workmen could not constantly and precisely hit upon the mixture,and therefore had allowed them a certain proportion for Remedy,which if they did not exceed,their work was not subject to censure.This allowance of Remedy hath been of two sorts,for when States would coin their Money strong and rich in value,they did not give any allowance to any pieces of Coin under the just weight and fineness:but if they were of a just weight and fineness,not exceeding the grains of Remedy,then they were allowed;so as in this case,the Coins were upon accompt to be recompence for so much as the over-put in the Money,being within the remedy permitted,and this they call in French Battre le fort.But all States rather inclining to make their Moneys weak than strong,there is in these latter Ages another way practiced,which is more general;that is,that Coins are not made one jot above the just proportion of weight and fineness,but (notwithstanding)the fail of either,so as it be no more than the grains of remedy,they are allowed as compleat:and by this means,upon Accompt,the Coiners are to make recompence to the State of so much as is short in their Coins,of the just weight and fineness,being within the permission of their remedy,which in French they call Battre Sur le foible.This is as much as Ihold fit to be spoken of the Antient and Modern forms;Except Ishould discourse of the Inscriptions or Characters,or of the Figures of Money,which in some times and places,have been long,oval,or square,and are now almost everywhere round,which to the searchers of Antiquity might prove grateful,but to my purpose would be of no use.