No. VII. SILVER COINS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. A Table containing the Assays, Weights, and Values of the principal Silver Coins of all Countries, computed at the Rate of 5s. 2d. per Ounce Standard, from Assays made both at the London and Paris Mints.

*This value of the American eagle is taken from average assays of the coins of twelve years. + " By one of the articles of the Zollverein, or Customs-union of Germany, it was stipulated that the scitlements for the duties should be made either in Prussian dollars or in florins, at the rate of 7 florins

for four Prussian dollars. There were, however, no florins in existence exactly of this value; but as the nearest approach to it was a valuation called the 24 guldenfuss, or florin-foot, these Zollverein florins were nominally reckoned to be in this rate, though the difference amounts to more than 2 per cent. "The term 24 guldenfuss implies that the mark weight of fine silver is rated at 24 gulden or florins. It was formed by giving to the coins minted or valued in 20 guldenfuss an increased value of one-fifth, as rating the 20 kreutzer piece at 24 kreutzers. At 60d. per ounce standard, the value of this mark of fine silver is worth 408. 71d. sterling, from which the value of the different German monetary integers is readily obtained, as reckoning 274 marks banco or 34 marks current of Hamburg, 14 dollars of Prussia, 21 florins of South Germany, 20 florins of Austria, and also 60 lire Austriache of Lombardy, to be of this amount.

"In order, therefore, to prevent the loss or inconvenience which would attend their adhering to this mode of valuation, a money convention was entered into on the 25th of August, 1837, among the states forming the union, by which it was agreed upon that a new basis of valuation should be adopted for their coins, under the term of Süddeutscher Währung, or South German valuation, at the rate of 24} gulden or florins from the mark's weight of fine silver.

Bavaria, Wirtemberg. Baden, and Saxony have since issued their coins at this rate, and the other states of the confederation are doing or preparing to do the same. Among them Frankfort, in 1840, began the mintage of coins of this value; and by a regulation of the Chamber of Commerce of this free city, all the rates of exchange, as well as the values of bullion and foreign coins, were ordered to be expressed in this Süddeutscher Währung from the beginning of this present year (1843). One of these new and very exactly-minted florins was assayed by Messrs. Johnson and Cock, of Hatton Garden, who reported it to be, full weight, 6 dwts. 19 grains, worse 6 dwts., gold under 2 grains; from which the value, at 60d. per ounce standard, is very exactly 191d. sterling, making the par of exchange with London 120 florins in S. D. W. for 10. sterling.

"I have been thus particular in these explanations, partly because several persons imagine that the late alteration in the rate of exchange with Frankfort was made in compliance with the wishes, or to suit the convenience, of one or more of our leading houses in exchange negotiations, but more particuJarly because it is maintained by many that the valuation of this rate is not merely nominally, but really, In 24 guldenfuss. This is a point of no small importance to the commercial world, for had it been so, the par of exchange with London would have been only 118 florins for 10. sterling, and the difference between this and the present price of sight bills on Frankfort would have exceeded 24 per cent. ; a va riation which every practical cambist well knows could not exist, except under very extraordinary circumstances, and with nearly corresponding differences in the other rates of exchange: neither of which causes is now in operation." · (Leiter of William Tate, Esq., cambist to the Times.)

"

• The Prussian coins, having been debased at different periods, vary in their reports.
↑ This is the coin which is universally circulated under the name of the Spanish dollar.

The sterling value of the foreign coins, in the foregoing tables, has been computed from the assays as follows:- Let it be required to assign the value, in sterling, of a French double Louis d'or coined since 1786, the assay master's report being as follows:-"Weight, 9 dwts. 20 grs.; assay W. 14 grs.," that is, 0 sar. 14 grs. worse than the English standard. We proceed as under:

From 22 car. O gr. the fineness of English standard gold,} There remains 21 car. 24 gr.

Take 0 car. 14 gr.

Then, as 22 car.: 21 car. 2 grs.::9 dwts. 20 grs.: 9dwts. 16 grs., the standard gold contained in the Louis d'or; and hence, as 1 oz. 31. 17s. 104d.::9 dwts. 16 grs.: 17. 17s. 7 d., the value of the Louis in sterling money, and so for any of the other coins.

Ancient Coins. We subjoin, for the convenience of such of our readers as may at any time have occasion to consult works in which reference is made to ancient coins, the following tables of those that were principally current among the Jews, Greeks, and Romans. They were calculated by Dr. Arbuthnot (Tables of Ancient Coins, Weights, &c. 4to ed. Lond. 1754), and do not differ materially from the tables of Paucton, whose Métrologie (4to. Paris, 1780) is the most complete and elaborate work that has ever been published with respect to ancient monies, weights, and measures. At the same time we confess we should not be disposed to place much reliance on these tables, and we have elsewhere stated our reasons for holding this opinion. — (Encyc. Britannica, art. Money.)

The American dollars, and inferior silver pieces of late coinage, vary in fineness from W. 4 dwts, to W. 9f dwts.

15 78 5 24 14 Pentadrachma