An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Oeconomy (Vol. 2 of 2) / Being an essay on the science of domestic policy in free nations. In which are particularly considered population, agriculture, trade, industry, money, coin, interest, circulation, banks, exchange, public credit, and taxes

by Sir James Steuart

This marc is ordered to be coined into 23⁷⁄₃₃₁ florins. If therefore 4645.4 aces of fine silver be worth 23⁷⁄₃₃₁ or (in decimals, for the sake of facilitating calculation) 23.2024 florins, then the full marc or 5120 aces of fine silver will be worth 25.572 florins by this analogy, 4645.4 : 23.2024 :: 5120 : 25.572.

Mint price of fine silver.

But the mint price of the marc of fine silver is 25.1 florins. The difference, therefore, between the mint price of fine silver, and the price of it in the coin, will shew exactly the expence of coinage. State thus,

The price of a marc of fine silver in the coin	fl.	25.572
Price of ditto as paid by the mint		25.1
Price of coinage		0.472

To know how much this makes per cent. state thus,

25.1 : 25.472 :: 100 : 101.48

Price of coinage in Holland is about 1½ per cent. on silver.

So that in Holland there is not quite 1½ per cent. taken upon the coinage of silver florins. Let us next examine the regulations as to gold coin.

Of the Dutch gold coins.

There are in Holland two species of gold coins of different weights, fineness, and denominations, to wit, the Ducat and the Rider; we must therefore examine them separately.