Pounnds, soils money: the monetary system

LISTED IN: DAILY, MONEY, LIVE ONCE The monetary system of the 17th and 18th centuries was based on a duodecimal system of money of account (numbering system in base 12). Although very complex for rural and illiterate population was that of the post medieval and feudal France, this system has survived the centuries for over 1000 years.

The base units were the pound, the ground and the denier, the latter two subdivisions of the pound: 20 sols equivalent to one pound, 12 deniers are soil (so 1 pound = 20 sols = 240 denier). Other pieces have existed, as the shield or louis, but they still accounted for a sum in pounds and subdivisions. These currencies fine metal saw their course change over the years: a gold 1720 louis had a different value of a louis d'or 1722.

Warning: The monetary system of the old regime is complex and very rich in twists and reforms, only some basic and important events will be presented below. This document consists of synthetic, is based on the literature available at the bottom of the page and is in no way a numismatic pound in three volumes.

A brief history
755-780 - the beginnings

Pence Pepin - Lyon The use of the account pounds, land and money in the proportions mentioned above appeared under the Merovingian kings in 755 Pepin the short, in Article 27 ("De moneta") of "Capitula Synodi Vernensis" orders it is not hit over 22 soils in a pound.

Shortly after, his son and successor, Charlemagne, said in a decree following the chapter of 779 years ("Decretal Precum Quoundam Episcoporum") that "... those who have a stronghold of 200 vassals

pay half a pound, and those who 100 were vassals pay 5 soils ... ". In this text it is interesting to note that five soils are half a half a pound, so that five soils are a quarter of a pound, the pound was already 20 soils 779-780.

1343 - The account "soils and souls"

Denier Parisis under Philip VI On a more formal way, it was Philip VI of Valois, by its order of 22.8.1343 in Paris, officially decreed that "... the touz marcheanz and some others estat and conditions as they are, as none or if hardiz of marcheander, make no contraut how some merchandise whatsoever, to number of gold Deniers, big tournaments, no grounds of gold money, but only ponds and SOULZ ... " . (Excerpt from Article 13 of the Ordinance of 22 August 1343).

Parisis tournaments?

Until 1667, there were two "pound, soil denier" systems: the tournaments and Parisian. Currency called "Tournaments" was so called because the money was initially minted in Tours, as opposed to money parisis that she was struck in Paris.

Both systems have coexisted for a long time, the tournament book being used mainly in the south of the Loire and the Parisian pound in the north, although it was only used very little in front of the tournament system. To make matters worse, the system was parisis strongest quarter the tournament system and 1 pound parisis therefore equivalent to 20 cents or 25 cents worth Parisian soil or soil tournaments.

Given the complexity of the monetary system in place, Louis XIV, by an ordinance of 1667, gives the requirement to have pounds by now, and in funds, but regardless of system. It is still based on money tournaments, the old values are still accepted parisis but it will now re-evaluate and convert the money to bring them back livres. (Emergency Ordinance regarding the reform of justice, in April 1667 in St Germain en Laye, Title XXVII, Section 18).

Liard, shield, louis ...

However, soil and denier were not the only existing currencies. The centuries have seen the emergence and disappearance of many types of coins, each with their own value, their price fluctuate over time.

Among existing in the years 1600 and 1700 parts, we can mention for example:

Louis gold "crowns fused" Lyon - 1787 The louis gold: gold coin made for the first time by Louis XIII in 1640 (Order of St Germain en Laye of 31.03.1640). Iconic piece of Louis XIII, XIV and following, it has continued to see its course change over the years, the various suites and new monetary devaluations strikes. With a value of 10 pounds in 1640, it passed by a value of 20 livres. in 1709, 54 liv. in 1721 falling to 24 pounds in 1726 and stay there. See the listing on the Louis d'Or.

Ecu-called "long wick" Poitiers - 1648 L'Ecu de France: white or silver, or silver shield louis is a piece appeared in this form by a decree of September 1641. From an initial value of 60 floors (3 l. Tourn.) Ran its course to the 6. tourn. in 1726. The term shield appeared much earlier, during the reign of Louis VII. Note that there are subdivisions of the shield, such as the half-shield, the shield quarter or tenth of a shield, worth ECU 0.5 respectively, 0.25 and 0.10 shield shield.

Liard de France - 1697 - Poitiers The lion: small copper coin of Louis XIV created by a declaration of 1 July 1654, for a value of 3 deniers, although there were traces of the lion under Louis XI. From 1658 to 1694, the lion was given for 2 deniers and reassessed at 3 deniers from 1694. This currency, very low value compared to pounds and other louis and ECU, was widely used by the people. The end of a system

1 decimates Dupr - Year 5 - Paris This monetary system came to an end shortly after the Revolution. For the sake of uniformity of all systems of weights and measures, the new government instituted the fact that the pieces are now francs, one franc will be divided into 10 tenths and one decimated by 10 cents (18 Germinal and Decrees 28 Thermidor Year III).

The following year, a law establishes a correspondence between old and new system. The new "... Republican parts 5 Francs are received for 5 pounds 1 and 3 soils funds. "(Law of 25 Germinal year IV).

Finally, to endorse the old system, in Year 7, the law requires that the accounts will be made from 1 franc vendmiaire next (Act which sets accounting rules under the new system of weights and measures 17 Floreal Year 7).

However, the monetary transition was not made overnight and it took ten years for the Franc finally supplants book.

Small monetary dictionary

pound (): the pound as coin does not exist. The term pond is a unit of weight which were cut in a number of blanks to make parts (the time of Charlemagne, the pound metal was divided into 20 equal parts to make 20 soils). One pound equals 489.5 grams. Marc (the) subdivision of the pound (1 pound = 2 marks), which were carved in the royal coins. When we talk a pound a piece cut to 1/32 of marc, this meant that 32 pieces are made in a mark of fine metal. Marc tournaments worth 244.75 grams, Marc parisis worth 195.80 grams. Mite (a) term which meant half a denier (2 obols = 1 denier). When the size specified role a person has paid offerings for this tax, it meant she did not really given much, given its poverty. Bibliography

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