A Discourse Upon Coins
Bernardo Davanzati
A Discourse Upon Coins, by Signor Bernardo Davanzati, A Gentleman of Florence;
Being publickly spoken in the Academy there, Anno 1588. Translated out of Italian, by
John Toland, London; Printed by J.D. for Awnsham and John Churchil, at the Black
Swan in Pater-Noster-Row, 1696.
1. The Sun and Internal Heat do Separate, as it were by Distillation, the best juices
and Substances in the Bowels of the Earth; which being percolated into proper Veins and
Mines, and there congeaľd, grown solid, and ripen'd, they are in time made Metals: whereof
the most rare and perfect are Gold and Silver, resembling the two great Luminaries
of the World in Splendor and Colour. Fire nor Rust will not consume them; they are
not subject to be destroy'd by Moths, Worms, or Rottenness; nor do they waste much
by Use. They may in Wire or Leaves be extended to an incredible Fineness, and have
something in 'em that is Divine; at least certain Indian People think so, who fast when
they are digging for Gold, and forbid themselves the Company of Women, with all other
Pleasures, out of an old Superstition.
2. Now, Gold and Silver contribute very little in their own nature to our Lives, for which
all Earthly Things seem to have been created. Yet Men, as if they would make Nature
asham'd of this, have agreed to make those Metals of equal vaue to all other things, to
make 'em the Price and Measure of all, and the Instruments of changing and exchanging
whatever can be found good in this World. We may therefore call 'em the second Causes
of a happy Life, seeing that by their means we enjoy all those Benefits which render it
so. This is likewise the Reason why many have made 'em their Gods, seeing 'em perform
almost impossiblities. There is not a Rock so hard, said a wise and warlike King, but
an Ass loadn'd with Gold may force it. The known Fable of Jupiter's descending into
Danae's Lap in a shower of Gold signifies nothing else, but the Miracles which Gold can
work. We may conclude as much of the Sotry of Gyges a Lydian Shepherd, who walking
in a Cave is said to have taken a Gold Ring from the Finger of a dead Man he found there,
and putting it upon one of his own, he presently becomes invisible, goes into the Kings'
Bed Chamber, enjoys the Queen, by whose Assistance he next murders her Husband, and
seizes the Kingdom to himself.
3. Considering therefore the mighty Power and Importance of Gold in Human Affairs; and
since Socrates, leaving Divine and Natural Things to the Care of the Gods, taught that
Morality and Matters of Practice did only belong to us, I esteem it not a mean Subject,
nor unseasonable, nor out of my Province (most courteous Academicks) to discourse now
before you of Gold, of Silver, and other Coins. But it shall be with much brevity after
our Florentine manner, especially because I come hither to day under a great Infirmity,
my old and hereditary Distemper, which has not only render'd me feeble and uneasy,
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but likewise for many Years a Stranger to Books and Study. I must therefore beg your
Attention, because I naturally am, and shall this day be purposely sparing of my words.
4. Our Mortal Body being design'd a Habitation for the Divine and Immortal Soul, was
fram'd, as became the Servant of so great a Lady, of a most noble, delicate, and tender
Constitution; but withal nake and expos'd to the Injuries of Seasons, and Animals. It
could not therefore but stand in need of several things, which no body can procure by
himself alone; and this is the reason why we live together in Cities, to help one another
by various Occupations, Offices, and Degrees. But no Person is born fit for all sorts of
Business, some having a Genius for one thing, and some for another; nor can any Climate
indifferently produce all the Fruits of Earth, being in a very different Situation with
respect to the Sun and Stars. Hence it is that one Man labours and toils not for himself
alone, but also for others, and they reciprocally for him. So one City helps another,
and one Country parts with its Superfluities to another, in lieu whereof it is from thence
again suppli'd with what it wants. And thus all the good things of Nature and Art are
communicated and enjoy'd by the means of Human Commerce or Traffick, which at first
was but simple Barter, or changing of one Commodity for another, as it still continues
in the unciviliz'd parts of the World.
5. Now it was a difficult thing to know who stood in need of what you could spare, or
who had an overplus of what you wanted; and so to transport, preserve, or divide them,
as that both Parties might be accommodated. But Necessity, the Mother of Inventions,
taught Men to pitch upon a certain place, where many meeting from different Parts with
their Commodities, might themore easily supply one another; and this was the Origin of
Faires and Markets. Their Eyes were open'd by this Convenience to discover a greater,
that as they had chosen a particular place, so they might appoint some one thing that
should bear an equivalent value to all others; and that every thing might be given or
receiv'd for a certain quantity thereof, as if it had been the Medium or Fountain of the
universal Value of things, their separate Substance, or Idea.
6. The first Money that the Antients wrought was Copper, and was by common Consent
preferr'd to this high Office. So whatever superabounded to any Person, he gave it for
as much Copper as was compar'd with, or judg'd equal to it; this Copper he afterwards
gave for other things wanting to him, or otherwise he kept it by him in his Coffer, as a
Security for the Supply of his future Necessities. And this was the Original of selling and
buying, which we Tuscans still call comparing, in our Language comperare. Afterwards
the greater Excellency of Gold and Silver did set them off, and occasion'd them to be
made Money. They were at the beginning us'd in unwrought Pieces as they came to hand;
but, as Additions are easily mde to Inventions, they were next weigh'd, then stamp'd,
and so became Money.
7. When, where, and by whom Money was first coin'd is not agreed upon by Writers.
Herodotus says in Lydia, others in Naxos, Strabo in AEgina; some in Lycia by King
Erichthonius; Lucan says in Thessaly by King Ionus. I cannot learn that there was
any Money in use before the Flood: but the Scriptures speak plainly of it afterwards.
Abraham purchas'd a Field from Ephron the Hittite for four hundred Shekals of Silver,
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currant Money with the Merchant. Joseph was sold by his Brethren for twenty pieces of
Silver. And Moses laid upon the Israelites by Poll hald a Sheckel, that is, four Drachms
of Silver. Theseus, who reign'd in Attica abou the time of the Judges in Isreal, coin'd
Silver-Money with the Stamp of an Ox upon it, to invite those to manure and till the
Ground, who till then liv'd at random in the Woods. When Janus King of Latium receiv'd
Saturn fled by Sea from his Son Jupiter, who drove him from his Throne, (that was in the
so well govern'd, and so much celebrated Golden Age) Janus, I say, did in the Memory
of this Favour coin Copper Money, which had stamp'd upon it the Prow of a Ship. The
first Money among the Romans was a piece of Copper, without any coining, or a Pound
Weight, calľd by them AEs gravis, As Assis, and Pondo. Servius Tullius stamp'd a Sheep
upon it, as one of his Domestick Animals; the Riches of the Antients consisting then in
their Flocks, by them calľd Peculium or Pecunia, whence Money was so nam'd. In the
Year of Rome 383, Silver was there coin'd, and Gold sixty two Years after. When the
Florentines defeated the Forces of Sienna at Mount Alcino in the Year 1252, they coin'd
a Dram of fine Gold into a Florin, which was so well receiv'd in the World, that all People
would coin such Pieces, and call them Florins too.
8. The Latin names of Money are Moneta, Pecunia, Nummus: The Greek names are
[Greek words omitted]; And ours Pecunia, Danari, Danaio, 'tis calľd Moneta because the
Stamp of it does admonish us of its name, Value, and Fineness. The Denomination of
Money is generally deriv'd from the Stamp, as some old Coins were calľd Bigati, from the
Figure of a Cart drawn by two Horses; Philippi, from the Head of King Philip; Sagittarii,
from an Archer; and Armati, from the Impress of an arm'd Man. A Judg having receiv'd
a thousand of the latter for passing an unjust Sentence, did in his own excuse roguishly
play upon the words, saying, that he could not resist a thousand arm'd Men. The Mark or
Letter X gave a Denomination to the Roman Denarius, which was worth ten Asses. Our
Florin was so calľd from the Flower-de-Luce, which by Allusion shews it to be Florentine,
as a Rose does Rhodian Money. The Stamp denotes oftentimes ome Matters of Fact, as
the Prow of a Ship the abovementioned Humanity of Janus: and a Yacht sunk, with this
Motto Quare dubit asti, declar'd the vanquish'd Fortunes of Clement the Vllth. Pecunia
is deriv'd, as we said before, from Pecus; and Nummus from the Greek word [Greek word
omitted], which signifies a Statute, or somewhat appointed by Law, such as Money is,
being made the Queen of all things. It was calľd [Greek word omitted] for its Usefulness
and Goodness, seeing that by it we receive all that is good and beneficial, calľd in Greek
[Greek word omitted]. Lastly, it was called [Greek word omitted], which betokens the
small Money that runs amongst the common People. We of Florence make use of the
Latin words; and from Denarius, which amongst the Romans was a particular Piece, we
call Money in general Danari or Danato.
9. Thus far have we discours'd of the Time, Place, Invention, Authors, Names, and
Advantages of Money. 'Tis now time to give its Essential Definition. Money therefore is
Gold, Silver, or Copper coin'd by publick Authority at pleasure, and by the Consent of
Nations made the Price and Measure of things, to contract them the more easily. I said
Gold, Silver or Copper, because People have chosen those three Mettals to make Money
of. If the Prince (by which word is understood whoever governs and protects the State,
be it one or many, few or all) I say, if the Prince makes Money of Iron, Lead, Wood,
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Cork, Leather, Paper, Salt, or the like, (as it has sometimes happen'd) it will not be
receiv'd out of his Dominions, as not being coin'd of the Matter generally agreed upon.
It could not then be universal Money, but a particular Tally, Countermark, Note or Bill
from the Prince, obliging him to pay so much good Money when he is able. And this
has been frequently practis'd for want of Money, when the Publick Good requir'd it. The
Romans, calľd the Masters of their Mint the Triumvirs, appointed to oversee the fining
and coining of Copper, Silver, and Gold. Ulpianus, Pomponius, and others learned in
the Civil Law, expressly affirm that no Money is good, but what is of Gold, of Silver, or
Copper, wherefore Mark Antony was reproach'd amongst his other Crimes, for coining of
base Silver mixt with Iron.
10. I said in the Definition coin'd by publick Authority, because few Metals are found
altogether pure. To make Money therefore of equal Value, it is necessary to reduce the
Metal to a certain degree of Fineness, to cut it into pieces of equal Weight, and to put
a known Stamp upon it as a Mark of its being good Money, that every one may not be
oblig'd upon all occasions to try or essay it. This notwithstanding must not be done by
private Men, who may be suspected of Fraud, but by the Prince, who is the Father of
all. Wherefore no Person may coin his own Metal, be it never so good, without incurring
the Penalty due to Counterfeiters and Forgers. But he is to carry it to the publick Mint,
where it is receiv'd, weigh'd, essay'd mark'd, melted, allay'd, beaten, made into equal
Pieces, adjusted, coin'd, and render'd every way according to Law.
11. It was likewise said in the Definition at Pleasure: For tho the Law requires Money to
be coin'd, yet whether this or that way, that is, round or square, broad or narrow, more
or less pure, with this or that Stamp, under one Denomination or another, these are all
Accidents, and left entirely to the Magistrate's Descretion. It suffices that he touch not
the Substance of it, which he has no Power to do: that is, he may coin no Money but of
the three known Metals, nor set a false Price upon the Pieces, as it must needs happen, if,
after trying of 'em, they should be found not to consist of fine Metal enough answerable
to their Names. Should the People be thus cheated under the publick Faith that ought
to protect them, they might say as the Wolf did once to the Shepherd who devour'd the
Sheep. If I had done this, good Mr Shepherd, you would cry, help, help, and raise the
Country to pursue me.
12. It was said in the Definition, By the Consent of Nations made the Price and measure
of things, because men have agreed to fix that Value unpon those Metals, for they have
no such Privileges from Nature. A Natural Calf is far more noble than a Golden one,
yet how much inferior in Price? An Egg that was bought for half a Grain of Gold, kept
Count Ugolino alive in the Castle for ten days, which all the Treasure in the Universe
could not do. What does more nearly concern our Lives than Corn? nevertheless ten
thousand Grains thereof are sold for one of Gold.
13. But how comes it that things so valuable in themselves are worth so little Gold?
From what root springs it, that one thing is worth just so much of another, rather than
so much; worth this rather than that quantity of Gold? Let us examine whether this be
the Effect of Chance or not. All Men labour to become happy, and they think to find this
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Happiness in the Satisfaction of all their Wants and Desires, to answer which all Earthly
Things were created very good. Now all these by the Consent of Nations are worth all the
Gold (comprehending also the Silver and Copper) that is wrought in the World. All Men
then do passionatley covet all the Gold, to buy all things for the Satisfaction of all their
Wants and Desires, and so to become happy. The Parts follow the nature of the whole.
How much therefore of the Happiness of a Man, City, or Country, is caus'd or occasion'd
by any thing, just so much it is worth of their Gold or Labour: But it causes as much
Happiness as it answers of their Desires or Wants, as Drink it pleasing proportionable to
the degree of Thirst. The Will takes its measure from the Appetites and Pleasure; and
Want takes its measure from the Nature, Season, Climate, and Place; from the excellency,
rarity, or abundance of any thing, with perpetual Variation.
14. To be always acquainted with the Rule and Arithmetical Proportion which things
bear among themselves and with Gold, it were necessary to look down from Heaven, or
some exalted Prospect upon all the things that exist, or are done upon the Earth; or
rather to count their Images reflected in the Heavens as in a true Mirror. Then we might
cast up the Sum and say, there is on Earth just so much Gold, so many Things, so many
Men, so many Desires: As many of those Desires as any thing can satisfy, so much it is
worth of another thing, so much Gold it is worth. But here below we can scarce discover
those few things that are round about us, and we prize 'em according as we see 'em more
or less desir'd at any time, or in any place; whereof the Merchants do carefully inform
themselves, and for that reason they know the Prices of things better than all others.
15. It will not be amiss to illustrate what we have here said by some Examples. Water is
excellent, said Pindar and we could not well live without it: But because every one may
have enough of it for nothing. Jeremy had reason to lament that it could not be procu'd
withou Price. A Mole is a vile and despicable Animal, but in the Siege of Cassilino the
Famine was so great, that one was sold for 200 Florins; and yet it was not dear, for he
that parted with it dy'd of Hunger, and he that bought it out-liv'd the Siege. So Esau
threw away his Birth-right, and Esop's Cock contemn'd the Jewel. On the contrary,
Apitius, who Pliny calls a bottomless Gulf, spent two Millions and a half of Gold upon
his Gut; and, finding but the fourth part of a Million in his Coffers, he poison'd himself
for fear, as he said, of starving: And that, says Martial, was the daintiest bit that ever
he swallow'd. Aristotle knew how to spend his Money better; for he gave for some few
Books of Speusippus the Philosopher, a little after he was dead, 20250 Ducats of the Sun:
So I reduce the antient Talents, after Budaeus, to our modern Money, that I may be
the better understood. Alexander the Great gave Aristotle himself forty eight thousand
for writing the History of Animals. And Virgil receiv'd ten Sesterces a piece for the
twenty Lines in the sixth of his AEneids, wherein he laments the Death of Marcellus; this
makes of our Money 4250 Florins. The Vanity of Mankind has set excessive Rates upon
Vessels, precious Stones, Statues, Pictures, and other trifling Curiosities; because they
find as much Satisfaction in these, as in the quantity of Gold they give for them. Thus
the Inhabitants of Peru did at first barter Ingots of Gold for Looking glasses, Needles,
little Bells, and the like; because they put a high Esteem upon those things then new to
them, and drew more Satisfaction from 'em, than from the Gold and Silver wherewith
they abounded. And when all the Gold in those Countries shall be transported into ours,
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(which must quickly happen, if we continue those rich Navigations begun Anno 1534, and
then returning with less than a Million of Gold, the Spoils of Cucco and K. Atabalipa, but
now bring from 16 to 18 Millions at a time, which has rais'd the Price of things one third,
a sign that we have more Gold) I say, that when all the Gold in the Indies is brought into
Europe, because then it will become a Drug, we must either find out something more rare
to make Money of, or else return to the old way of bartering. And let so much suffice
concerning the Essence of Money.
16. Some maintain that Money was a very ill Invention, for this reason, viz. That the
Desire of other things could not be so great, nor the cause of so many Evils as is the
Thrist of Gold; because so much of those could not be laid up and preserv'd, as there
may be treasur'd of this. I answer with Epictetus, that every thing has two Handles,
and may be well or ill taken and us'd; as Reason, Physick, and Law are often abus'd to
the Destruction of Mankind; but are they for all this prohibited in the Common-wealth?
Have all the Philosophers pluck'd out their Eyes like Democritus, because the fight of
many things takes off the Mind from Contemplation? All Steel, as they say, makes its
own Rust, and we must learn how to scour it. Money was an excellent invention, and an
Instrument of doing infinite good; if any makes an ill use of it, 'tis not the Thing but the
Person that is to be blam'd and punish'd.
17. Some grave and famous Authors have calľd Money the Sinews of War and Government;
but, in my Opinion, it may be more properly stiľd the Second Blood thereof, for
as Blood, which is the Juice and Substance of Meat in the natural Body, does, by circulating
out of the greater into the lesser Vessels, moisten all the Flesh, which drinks it up as
parch'd Ground soaks Rain Water; so it nourishes and restores as much of it as was dri'd
up and evaporated by the natural Heat: In like manner, Money, which we said before was
the best Juice and Substance of the Earth, does, by circulating out of the richer Purses
into the poorer, furnish all the Nation, being laid out upon those things whereof there is a
continual Consumption for the Necessities of Life. From the poorer it returns again into
the richer Purses; and thus circulating without Intermission, it preserves alive the Civil
Body of the Common-wealth. Hence it may be easily conceiv'd that every State must
have a quantity of Money, as every Body a quantity of Blood to circulate therein. But
as the Blood stopping in the Head or the larger Vessels puts the Body naturally into a
Consumption, Dropsy, or Apoplexy, etc. so should all the Money be only in a few Hands,
as in those of the rich for Example, the State falls unavoidably into Convulsions, and
other dangerous Distempers. Thus it was very near happening at Rome, when by reason
of the multitude of accus'd Persons, of Condemnations, Slaughters, and Confiscations, all
the Money was like to come into the Exchequer, had not Tiberius distributed two Millions
and a half of Gold into the Banks, when it was to be lent to Debtors upon double
Security for three Years, without any Expence or Interest. We ought therefore to set a
high Value upon the living Member of the Common-wealth, and to preserve it from those
Mischiefs which usually befal it, when not carefully look'd after; such as Counterfeiting,
Monopolizing, Simony, Usury, and the like, already decri'd, and known everywhere. But,
passing by these, I shall now confine my Discourse only to one, not so much taken notice
of, and indeed neglected from the beginning; I mean debasing of Coin, which increases
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more and more every day. I design to shew the Causes, the Damage, the Scandal, the
Remedy of this Evil, and so to conclude.
18. The Root of this, as of all other Evils, is Covetousness, which has found out many
occasions and pretences for debasing of Money. But this is the chief, that Money, being
once out of the Mint, does in time, by too mauch handling, and frequently counting,
grow lighter; or that a Grain, for Example, is taken off it by some illegal Practice; the
People in the mean while either take no notice of so small a matter, or care not, and so
the Money passes: Hereupon the dishonest Coiner says to his Lord, Since your Money,
Sir, is one Grain lighter, 'tis fitter you should get by it, than the others clip it; and so a
Grain is taken off it. The neighbouring States seeing this, diminish theirs likewise. Some
time after they fall to it again, and take off another Grain, and then another, and so on.
Thus for sixty Years past this Worm has consum'd above the third part of the Silver of
Europe; and it must at last (if this Practice continue) be brought, to nothing, or to those
Nail-heads, which, perhaps, was the Iron-Money that Lycurgus gave the Spartans.
19. The Damage is manifest, because by how much Money is debas'd whether in Allay
or Weight, by so much are lessen'd the publick Revenues, and the Credit and Estates of
private Men, who so far receive less Gold or Silver. And he that has but little Money,
can buy but a few things, which are the only true Riches: for no sooner is Money debas'd
but all things grow dear: And there is Reason for it, because (as Carasulla, who was no
Fool, delivers the Etymology of the word) vendo to sell comes from venio to come, and
do to give; for things are given in sale, because you expect there should come to you in
Exchange so much Metal as is wont, or is believ'd to be in the Money; and not so many
Stamps, or Denominations, or Pieces. If that same quantity of Silver be at present in
one hundred and nine pieces, which us'd before to be in a hundred only, must not one
hundred and nine be now paid for that which formerly cost but a hundred?
20. Therefore Years ago our Florin was worth seven Livers, not 'tis exchang'd for ten: So
that at present seven Livers, cannot purchase a whole Florin, but only seven parts in ten.
The other three parts are vanish'd, and by so much are lessen'd the publick Revenues,
with the Estates of private Men. Now here may be perceiv'd how great an Injury Princes
do to themselves; for tho they gain once by robbing the poor People of what is taken
from the Money, yet they lose by it ever after, being forc'd to recive their Revenues in
the same Coin. Hence spring Disorders, and Confusions; because the People do, by the
Novelty of the Coins and Prices which measure things, become, in a manner, Strangers
in their own Country; and not less confounded than if the Weights and publick Measures
were alter'd, with which they were wont to contract for Corn, Liquor, Cloth, etc. But
what worse thing can be done to the Common-wealth than every day to change the Laws,
Coins, Offices, Customs, and, as it were, to renew the Members of it? To make muddy,
or rather to poison the common Fountain of the City?
21. More Confusions still follow upon debasing of Money; for when Silver is debas'd,
the Price of Gold must consequently rise, as it was said before of our Florin rais'd from
seven to ten Livres: Otherwise the common Proportion between Silver and Gold, which
at this time is that of one to twelve or thirteen, could not hold; for all the Gold would be
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brought up, and carried where it was worth more Silver. Great Difficulties therefore, and
Quarrels would happen about the payment of Legacies, Taxes, Rents, Profits, and of all
Debts contracted when the Money was good. A Debtor of a Gold Florin of seven Livres
would say to his Creditor, Sir, here are seven Livres which I ow'd you. The Creditor
answers, you must pay me ten Livres; for a Gold Florin, which you promis'd to pay me,
is now worth so much: and if this pleases you not, pay me a Gold Florin, flower-deluc'd
and stamp'd, as when we bargain'd. The Debtor replies, If I give you a Florin of seven
Livres, as the Proclamation sings, I do enough: If the Prince has debas'd the Money, it
is a common Storm, and we are all in the same Ship: Complain not of me, but of the
Prince. And truly the People have reason to complain of him, being involv'd in such cruel
Difficulties and Tumults, as even the wise know not how to be deliver'd from: for some
of 'em are for maintaining the Law in this case, others the Intention of it; some are for
the Rigor, and others for the Equity of it.
22. But how shall the Prince help debasing the Money? Suppose it be made bad by
his Neighbours, by Time, or evil Practices; that all the good be spirited or exported,
and after vanishing a while, it appears again made worse; must the City be filľd with
foreign, base, and dipt Money, and the People be plagu'd with it, as if they were to feed
upon mouldy Bread? I answer, that so such Money is to be suffer'd by any means: That
every one may be secure from being cheated, let it be quickly remov'd, but by just and
discreet Methods. Let there be certain Persons appointed to receive it, and to pay the
just value thereof, without making any Gain or Profit by it. So every one will bring it
to be chang'd, and obey most readily, when the perceive they are to suffer none, or a
very inconsiderable Loss. Thus a great Master in Politicks ordain'd in the 5th Book of
his Laws, that the Government should not take the bad Money from those who brought
it from Abroad, but might justly pay it after the manner of the Country.
23. There can be no danger, that your Money, for doing too good, should be exported
and recoin'd: for I presume it is not bestow'd upon him that carries it Abroad; but paying
for it after the rate of good Money, he leaves (as we say) his Skin behind him; and if it be
made bad, if passes and is exchang'd only for bad Money. A hundred Livres of Florence
go for a hundred and fix of those of Lucca: he that takes by Exchange an hundred Livres
in Florence, does but labour in vain. We don't find therefore that Lucca, nor any other
City are emptying Florence of its Money to re-coin it, since the Exchange has every way
levelľd and made it equal.
24. It is not fit then, that because others debase their Money, you do so too. Rather
let what has been once receiv'd, always pass, because so the People are in no danger
of losing, of being cheated, or offended. The Egyptians cut off both their Hands who
falsified the publick Weights and Measures. But what greater falsifying can there be
than diminishing the Money, that is, basely to pilfer People of their Goods? Rome being
strain'd by Hannibal, and drain'd of Money, they coin'd their Assis of one Ounce, that
weigh'd twelve before. But this was done by publick Advice in that Extremity, which
being over, all matters were settľd as formerly. However, had it continu'd, does it not
follow, that as Money was brought down from twelve to one, so the Prices of things would
be rais'd from one to twelve? The old Country-woman that us'd to sell her dozen of Eggs
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for an Assis of twelve Ounces, seeing it look now so deform'd, and reduc'd to one Ounce,
would have said, Gentlemen, either give an Assis of twelve Ounces, or twelve of those
paultry ones that weigh but one Ounce; or I'll give you an Egg apiece for your Asses;
chuse which you will.
25. Remove then all the thoughts of debasing the Coin, and pluck up the Seeds of this
Mischief. Let not the Mint gain by any means; for truly 'tis a most scadalous bussiness
to lessen other Peoples Metal that is sent thither to be coin'd. Greediness is a Crime
that was punish'd by God with the Death of Eli the Priest in Shilo, and with that of his
two Sons Hophni and Phineas his Ministers, who cut off, for their own Tables, the best of
every Offering brought them to sacrifice. The Gentiles did better, who eat all the Victim
except the Fat that run out of it, as if the Gods would have the Soul only for their share,
so Strabo and Catullus say:
Gnarus ut accepto veneretur carmine Divos; Omentum in Flamma pingue liquefaciens.
26. Now to take away all Temptations of Gain, to wash off all the Marks of it, and to
make this Matter creditable, plain, and safe, command that Money pass according to its
intrinsick Value, that is, for as much Gold or Silver as there is in it; and that Money
of the same Allay be worth as much in Bar as when it is coin'd: so that the Metal,
like an amphibious Animal, may without any Expence indifferently pass from Bullion
into Coin, and from Coin into Bullion. In a word, let the Mint deliver out the same
Metal in Money that it receiv'd in to coin. Would you have then, some will say, the
Mint to bear all the Expence? Yes, certainly; many eminent Civil Lawyers content that
the Publick must be at the Charge of maintaining this Blood in the Common-wealth, as
they pay the Souldiers, and the Salaries of Magistrates for the Preservation of Liberty and
Justice. Others thing it equitable that Money should pay its own Minting, by being made
somewhat worse, and yet of more Value than so much Bullion, like Vessels, Furniture,
or other things whereupon any Labour is bestow'd. So, very often the Workmanship is
of greater Value than the Materials, as those two Beakers of Silver wrought by mentor,
which Lucius Crassus the Orator bought for 2500 Florins of Gold, yet never drunk out of
them afterwards. And the Husbands of our time can tell whether the Embroideries and
other little Trangums of the Women, cost 'em more than the Clothes they are to set off.
26. After all, the old Custom of Money's paying its own Coinage, (the People looking
on and suffering it) pleads Prescription, and the Prince is in Possession of it. I shall not
dispute with my Masters; but I may say that if the Mint ought not to bear this Charge,
yet it should be made as easy as possible, and the Stamps be rather less beautiful. But
why should not we return (as some desire it) to the old way of casting Money? for it has
all the Advantages that can be wish'd. Two Stamps of Steel can mark both sides of a
Piece in two Molds of Copper, so that two Men without any more Expences than Waste,
Boiling and Coals, may in one day coin any great Sum in pieces of equal Weight and
Fineness, and for that reason more apt to discover clipping or counterfeiting. For Money
that is made of false Metal, if it be of any ordinary Body, cannot escape being found out
by its Weight in the Scales; and if it be broader or narrower, thicker or thinner than it
should be, it cannot impose upon the Eyes. Nor had it been more than Justice, if Officers
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were appointed to see it melted, allay'd, and cast before the People within those Iron
Grates, ordain'd for that purpose by our good and wise old citizens, after the Example
of the Romans, who religiously perform'd all this nice business of Money in the Temple
of Juno, the Doors being set wide open, that the People might freely see what so nearly
concern'd them.
27. Who does not perceive that by such means as these we might eradicate those pernicious
Weeds of Expence, Fraud, and Gain; which being only lopt, never fail to grow
again, and to debase the Coin? Lastly, I shall add as a Corollary, that Traffick has so
much trouble and difficulty in it upon the account of this blessed Money, that it wold be
better perhaps to do without it, and to pass our Gold and Silver by Weight and Size, as
they did in the Primitive Times, and is still us'd in China, whre they always carry about
them their Shears and Scales, and ave nothing to fear buty the Allay, which by Use and
the Touchstone is easily discover'd.
Concerning the Generation of Metals; the Excellency of Gold and Silver; the Origin of
buying and selling, with that of Money; when, why, and by whom Money was first invented
and us'd; of the Names, of the Essence, and the Importance thereof; of its debasing, and
the Causes of it, with the Damages and Scandals that are the Consequences of it, and
their proper Remedies; let it suffice, most patient Auditors, to have discours'd those
few things, by me thought convenient for this time and place; not for you Instruction,
Gentlemen, but for your Entertainment.
Finis.
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