Re: Gold for VMs (WAS(Re: VMs: Mad Kircher, was (lots))

[Dennis <tsalagi@xxxxxxxx>]

	I've given this some more thought.  Given the 
uncertainties, a range of gold values would make 
the most sense.

Jacques Guy wrote:
> 
> All right... you had me go and get my 1900 Larousse.
> 
> Ducat:
> 
> Apparently first minted in Venice in the 13th century.
> Its value fluctuated... in the 18th century, it
> was 11.62 to 11.89 francs in Germany, Austria,
> Switzerland, Hanover, Holland, Poland, Prussia,
> Russia and Sweden, only 9.30 francs in Denmark,
> and 7.48 francs in Venice. 

	So all this gives us a range of 
7.48 to 11.89 francs per ducat, from 18th century 
Germany, Austria, etc. to 7.48 francs per ducat 
in ?th century Venice. 

> There were silver
> ducats and their value varied from 5.02 to 5.62 francs
> in Parma, Piacenza and Venice (banking ducat), and
> 4.18 to 4.38 francs in Sicily and Venice (common
> ducat). 

	The silver ducats would be less 
in value, very much is Jacques is comparing *silver* 
francs to silver ducats.  Is this the case?

> In Venice, there was also the "ducato
> corrente piccolo" which was worth 3.24 francs. In Germany
> and Austria, "ducat" was also the name of a weight
> for precious metals, equivalent to 3.491 grams in
> Germany and 3.459 grams in Austria.

	The German and Austrian precious 
metal equivalents are about the same as Rafal gives 
for the (gold) ducats in Poland.  

> Now, 100 francs contained 32.258 grams of 90% gold
> (a British pound, BTW, was 7.98805 grams of 91.(6)%
> gold (11/12th, so: 22k). I'd count 1 ducat = 10 francs

	Does this mean that 100 francs *always* contained 
the amount of pure gold that Jacques mentioned?  If so,
the 
following calculation makes sense.

	I took the range as 7.48 to 11.89 francs
per ducats to run the numbers.  

*Gold Equivalent for VMs*

Basis                    grams     troy ounces
-------------------   ----------  -------------
Western Europe 
 -- (Jacques Guy)     1303-2071     41.9-66.6
Polish
 -- (Rafal Prinke)       2100         67.5 

	The full range would be 42-68 troy ounces, 
for a 2003 US$ value of 16000-26000   .  

Dennis
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