The confusion to which this led was due to the unstable nature of the imaginary money, which from 1312 continually depreciates in value, as compared with the actual hard florin money. In 1314, as some measure of reform, it was ordained that the florin of gold should not equal more nor less than 29 of the soldi of this lira, and that it should never change from such course--the distinction of _moneta bianca_ and _nera_ being introduced for the purpose. The ceasing of the observation of this regulation in the sixteenth century made way for every kind of confusion.
For the explanation of the text in Part I., pp. 19-23, it need only be added that 20 of these imaginary soldi formed the _lira a fiorino_ spoken of.
TABLE OF THE SILVER COINS STRUCK IN FLORENCE, 1252-1534.
+---------+-----------------+---------------------+-----------+-------------+----------+--------------+------------+ | | | Standard. | Weight | Fine Silver | Tale per | Tale per | Value at | | Year. | Denomination. +----------+----------+ of each | in each | Mark |Mark issued to| which | | | | Silver. | Alloy. | piece. | Piece. | minted. |the Merchant. |Circulated. | +---------+-----------------+----------+----------+-----------+-------------+----------+--------------+------------+ | | | Oz. Gr. | Oz. Gr. | Grains. | Grains. | | |Soldi. Den. | | 1252 |Fiorino d'argento| --- | --- | 43-1/5 | --- | 160 | --- | 1 0 | | | | | | | | | |(of the gold| | | | | | | | | | florin.) | | 1280 | Do. | 11 15 | 0 9 | 45-3/4 | 45-1/4 | 151 | --- | 1 8 | | 1296 |Soldi grossi | 11 15 | 0 9 | 40-9/19 | 39-3/19 | 171 | 167 | 2 0 | | 1305 |Grossi popolini | 11 12 | 0 12 | 40-9/19 | 38-3/4 | 171 | --- | 2 0 | | | |(= Argento popolino.)| | | | | | | 1314 |Guelfi del fiore | 11 12 | 0 12 | 41-5/8 | 39-7/8 | 166 | 163 | 2 6 | | |(Half and quarter| | | | | | | | | | of same.) | | | | | | | | | 1345 |Nuovi Guelfi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 51-7/12 | 49-5/12 | 134 | 132 | 4 0 | |(Aug. 19)| | | | | | | |(of the | | | | | | | | | | piccioli.)| | 1345 |Grossi Guelfi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 52-4/11 | 50-2/11 | 132 | --- | 4 0 | |(Aug. 23)| | | | | | | | | | 1345 |Grossi Guelfi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 48-2/3 | 46-5/8 | 142 | 140 | 4 0 | |(Oct. 23)| | | | | | | | | | 1347 |Guelfi grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 59-1/13 | 56-8/13 | 117 | 111-2/3 | 5 0 | | 1368 |Popolini | 11 12 | 0 12 | 23-1/25 | 22-2/25 | 300 | | 2 0 | | 1390 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 56-8/41 | 53-35/41 | 123 | | 5 6 | | | | | | | | | |(piccioli.) | | 1402 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 52-4/11 | 50-2/11 | 132 | 130 | 5 6 | | 1448 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | | | | | 5 4 | | 1460 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 54 | 51-3/4 | 128 | 125-2/3 | 6 8 | | 1471 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 49-1/47 | 46-38/47 | 141 | 138 | 6 8 | | 1481 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 47-1/49 | 45-3/49 | 147 | 143 | 6 8 | | 1489 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 47-1/49 | 45-3/49 | 147 | 144 | 6 8 | | 1503 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 40-1/2 | 38-19/24 | 170-2/3 | 166-2/3 | 7 0 | | 1503 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 71-72/345 | 68-76/145 | 96-2/3 | 94-1/3 |{ 10 0 | | | | | | | | | |{ (bianchi.) | | | | | | | | | |{ 13 4 | | | | | | | | | |{ (neri.) | | 1504 |Carolino or | 11 12 | 0 12 | 71-73/145 | 68-76/145 | 96-2/3 | 94-1/3 | 10 0 | | | barile | | | | | | | (bianchi.) | | 1506 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 39-165/173| 38-50/173 | 173 | 169 | 7 0 | | 1508 |Grossoni | 11 12 | 0 12 | 39-201/347| 38-62/347 | 173-1/2 | 169 | 7 0 | | 1508 |Grossetti | 11 12 | 0 12 | 28-268/731| 27-135/731 | 243-2/3 | 237-2/3 |{ 4 0 | | | | | | | | | |{ (bianchi.) | | | | | | | | | |{ 5 0 | | | | | | | | | |{ (neri.) | | 1524 |Barili | 11 12 | 0 12 | 68-1/4 | 65-13/32 | 101-1/4 | 99 | 13 4 | | |(The half-barile and the teston (= 3 barili) in proportion.) | | | | | 1531 |Grossi | 11 12 | 0 12 | 38 | 36-5/12 | 181-17/19| --- | 7 0 | | 1531 |Barili | 11 12 | 0 12 | 70 | 67-1/12 | 98-46/35 | --- |{ 10 0 | | | | | | | | | |{ (bianchi.) | | | | | | | | | |{ 13 4 | | | | | | | | | |{ (neri.) | | 1531 |Quinto di Ducato | 11 12 | 0 12 | 152 | 145-2/3 | 45-9/19 | --- | 30 0 | | | | | | | | | |(piccioli.) | +---------+-----------------+----------+----------+-----------+-------------+----------+--------------+------------+