So much for the ordinances themselves. It is only necessary to add, for their general elucidation, that they generally contain and prescribe in detail the value of each separate coin circulating in the Low Countries at the particular time, coupled with an engraving of the coin, as an assistance to the people in recognising them. Indeed, some of the ordinances, that of 1606 for instance, contain engravings of upwards of 1000 different pieces—a significant witness to the international welter of coins in the Netherlands exchange. Dissected in detail, with regard to only a few of these coins, the tabular result is as follows:

—

THE NETHERLAND PLAKKAATS

German Gold Guldens.
(75 to a Mark of Gold, 18 Carats 4 Grs. Fine.)		 Spanish Ducats.
(70 to a Mark of Gold, 23 Carats 7 1⁄2 Grs. Fine.)
Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats. Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats.
Florins. Stivers. Florins. Stivers.
1499 1 8 1499 1 19
1522 1 10 1522 2 3
1526 1 12 1526 2 4
1 8 1 19
1539 1 9 1539 2 1
1 8 1 19
1548 1 10 1548 2 1
1552 1 11 1552 2 2
1559 1 12 1559 2 5
1572 1 15 1572 2 7
1573 1 19 1573 2 15
1574 1 16 1574 2 13
1575 2 0 1575 3 0
1576 2 0 1576 3 3
1 17 2 12
1577 2 0 1577 3 3
1579 2 3 1579 3 4
2 4 3 0
2 2 2 18
2 3 3 0
1581 2 8 1581 3 6
1590 2 9 1590 3 10
1605 2 10 1599 3 15
1607 2 12 1609 3 19
1609 2 15 1618 4 1
1611 2 16 1⁄2
1618 2 17 1⁄2 United Netherlands.
1586 3 8
United Netherlands.1594 3 12
1586 2 8 3 10
1594 2 12 3 8
2 10 1596 3 9
2 81603 3 16
1596 2 10 3 15 1⁄2
1603 2 14 3 15
1606 2 15 1606 3 16
1608 2 17 1608 4 0
2 16 3 18
2 15 3 16
1610 4 0
1610 & 2 18 1615 4 1
onwards 1619 4 2
1621 4 4
Spanish Pistoles.
(36 to a Mark of Gold, 21 Carats 10 Grs. Fine.)		 French Crowns.
(Old, i.e. not "of the Sun," 72 to a Mark of Gold, 22 Carats 4 1⁄2 Grs. Fine)
Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats. Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats.
Florins. Stivers. Florins. Stivers.
1548 3 12 1499 1 15 1⁄2
1552 3 18 1522 1 19
1559 4 0 1526 1 19
1572 4 4 1 15 1⁄2
1573 4 16 1539 1 17
1574 4 10 1 15
1575 5 0 1548 1 17
1576 5 4 1552 1 19
4 13 1559 2 0
1577 5 4 1572 2 2
1579 5 10 1573 2 9
5 10 1574 2 6
5 5 1575 2 12
5 8 1576 2 13
1581 5 18 1577 2 12
1590 6 4 1579 2 15
1605 6 9 2 15
1607 6 12 2 12 1⁄2
1609 7 0 2 14
1611 7 2 1581 3 0
1618 7 5 1590 3 3
1605 3 6
1607 3 8
1609 3 12
1611 3 12 1⁄2
United Netherlands. 1618 3 14
1586 6 0 United Netherlands.
1594 6 6 1586 3 0
6 3 1594 3 3
6 0 3 1
1596 6 6 3 0
1603 6 15 1603 3 8
1606 6 17 1606 3 10
1608 7 1 1608 3 14
6 19 3 12
6 17 3 10
1610 7 4 1610 3 14
1615 7 6 1615 3 15
1619 7 12 1619 3 16
7 6 3 15
1621 7 12 1621 3 18
English Rose Nobles.
(32 to a Mark of Gold, 23 Carats 8 1⁄2 Grs. Fine.)		 English Sovereigns.
(40 to a Mark of Gold.)
Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats. Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats.
Florins. Stivers. Florins. Stivers.
1499 4 5
1520 4 5 1⁄2 1548 3 0
1522 4 10 1⁄2
1526 4 17 1⁄2 1552 3 0
4 5 1⁄2
1539 4 10 1554 3 0
4 5 1⁄2
1548 4 10 1575 4 4
1552 4 16
1559 5 0 1576 4 6
1572 5 3
1573 6 10 1579 4 8
1574 6 6
1575 7 5
1576 7 10
1577 7 0
1579 8 0
7 10
6 8
6 14
1581 7 4
1590 7 9
1607 8 2
1609 8 10
1611 8 13 United Netherlands.
1618 8 16158651
1594 5 5
United Netherlands. 53
1586 7 12 5 1
1594 8 0 1596 5 2
7 16 1603 5 9
7 12 1606 5 12
1596 7 131608 5 16
1603 8 8 5 14
8 7 5 12
8 6 1610 5 18
1606 8 9
1608 8 16
8 12
8 9
1610 8 16
1619 9 0
8 16
1621 9 0
Philippus Rijder.
(67 1⁄2 and subsequently 70 to a Mark of Gold, 23 Carats 8 1⁄2 Grs. Fine.)		 Burgundian Gulden
(or Gulden Andries).
(72 to a Mark of Gold, 19 Carats Fine, from 1456 to 1567; later, 75 to a Mark, 18 Carats 6 Grs. Fine.)
Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats. Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats.
Florins. Stivers. Florins. Stivers.
1499 1 19 1499 1 9
1522 2 3 1522 1 12
1526 2 4 1526 1 13
1 19 1 9
1539 2 11539 1 10
1 19 1 9
1548 2 1 1548 1 11
1552 2 2 1552 1 12
1559 2 5 1559 1 13
1572 2 7 1572 1 15 1⁄2
1573 2 15 1573 1 19
1575 2 18 1574 1 16
1576 3 3 1575 2 0
1577 3 0 1576 2 0
1579 3 3 1 18 1⁄2
3 0 1577 2 2
2 18 1⁄21579 2 3
3 0 1 5
1581 3 6 2 3 1⁄2
1590 3 8 1⁄2 2 4
1610 3 18 1581 2 9
1611 3 19 1590 2 11
1607 2 14
1609 2 17
1611 2 18
United Netherlands.
United Netherlands.
1586 3 8 1586 2 9
1594 3 10 1594 2 13
3 9 2 11
3 8 2 9
1596 3 9 1596 2 11
1603 3 14 1603 2 15
1606 3 15 1606 2 16
1608 3 171608 2 18
3 16 2 17
3 15 2 16
1610 4 0 1610 2 19
German Thaler (Silver). Netherland Rijksdaalder (Silver).
Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats. Date. Declared Value in Netherlands Currency as by the Plakkaats.
Florins. Stivers. Florins. Stivers.
1539 1 6 1583 2 2
1 7
1548 1 8 1586 2 5
1552 1 9
1559 1 101594 2 6
1571 1 11
1572 1 12 2 5
1573 1 16
1 14 1603 2 7
1577 1 18
1579 2 1 1608 2 8
1581 2 5
1611 2 11 2 7
United Netherlands.
1586 2 5 United Netherlands.
1594 2 6
2 5
1603 2 7 1610 2 8
1608 2 8
2 7 1619 2 10
1610 2 8
1619 2 10 1621 2 12
1621 2 12
France.

In France the result of the American influx of metals did not make itself felt until the time of Francis I. During his reign the value of the mark of gold increased 33 livres 4 sols. 2 dens., and that of silver 1 livre 10 sols.

The main reduction took place at two periods, 1519 and 1540, and with a consequent change in the

ratio slightly in favour of silver. The earliest find in America was gold, and at first this metal shows a tendency to depreciate. Concurrently silver, as the overvalued metal, commenced to disappear from circulation. It was to prevent this export that in 1519 the écu au soleil was advanced to 40 sols., and again in 1532 to 45 sols.—an advance of 12 1⁄2 per cent. The silver testoon was advanced at the same time from 10 sols. to 10 sols. 6 dens., an advance of 5 per cent. Even so equilibrium was not produced, and disorders in the currency continued, along with the prevalence of lower-rated coins. The town of Marseilles complained of it in a petition to the King (8th May 1539), and the important edict of Blois, 1540, which left the écus au soleil untouched at 45 sols., while advancing the testoon to 10 sols. 8 dens., was professedly and purposely issued "to more equalise the silver with the value of the gold, and consequently to make the value of our monies, both red and white, corresponding." Two years later the States-General when they met complained of the lack of currency, and demanded the opening of the Mint at Aix. The request was granted, but without visible result.

The same process of advance, unequally maintained, continued under Henry II. and Charles IX. (see [accompanying tables]).