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Currency in the middle ages was generally in the form of silver coins. The names of these coins varied depending on location. In medieval England, for example, the basic coin was the penny. Twelve pennies had the value of one shilling. Twenty shillings had the value of one pound. Shilling and pound coins did not exist, they were ways of counting but they were substantial amounts of money. English money was fairly valuable, so fractional pennies were used. At first this was simply a penny that had been cut in half or in quarters, but eventually half penny and quarter penny coins (the latter was called a farthing)were minted.
France had a similar system with different names. The denier was the French equivalent of the penny, and they had the same 12 and 20 count units, known as the sous (sometimes also the sol) and the livre. Because of the coin weight and the quality of the silver, the denier was closer to the value of the English farthing, and generally a penny exchanged for 3-4 denier. Similar systems existed in much of Europe.
Medieval money had no abstract value the way modern money does, it was valuable because of its precious metal content. As a result the purity of the silver and the exact weight of coins could vary, and the resulting value of the money would vary. Documents would often not only specify the amount of debts but also specifiy the location of the source of the coins it was to be paid in, i.e. 10 sous of Paris. 2 Livre of Chartres, etc.
Gold coins were also used occasionally. Gold was roughly 10 times the value of silver, and was used primarily for large value transactions, such as between merchants. Gold coins from the city of Florence were particularly desired for this as a trusted and stable currency for large values.
Silver was sometimes also measured in "marks" which was a measure of weight. It had the equivalent value of 2/3 of a pound of silver.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoI wonder if they have the currency back then. I am guessing they used Barter system to exchange goods.
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Why were people in the Middle Ages clever?
The Enlightenment gave people a reason to believe in their own thoughts and not have the king or monarchy tell them what to think. The began to use their own reason. The Enlightenment however was after the middle ages.
Did people have clay pipes in medieval times?
The Europeans did not have tobacco in the middle ages, so they did not use clay pipes, at least not in Europe.
Was feudalism in use during the Middle Ages?
Yes it was.
Who were the surfs in the middle ages?
The "serfs" in the middle ages where people who were poor. They were basically born into slavery similar to some black slaves. They were allowed to own their own land sometimes. They had to stay on their masters land and payed to use their material.
Do people still use catapults?
The catapault was used mainly in war. The catapault was made in the middle ages, a kind of cousin of a cannon.
What did the middle age people use weapons for?
why did the middle ages people use weapons
What did the Middle Ages use to communicate?
people in the middle ages used letters or talking to face to face
What did people in the middle ages use for perfume?
Flowers
What did they write with in the Middle Ages?
mainly people couldn't read or write in the middle ages but those who could would use a quill pen
What did the people in the middle ages use to play chess?
It was very popular...
How you use uncivilized in a sentence?
In the middle ages, people were very uncivilised
How do you use Middle Ages in a sentence?
Charlemagne lived in the Middle Ages.
What transportation does the middle ages people use?
Foot, boat, horse, wagon.
Why were people in the Middle Ages clever?
The Enlightenment gave people a reason to believe in their own thoughts and not have the king or monarchy tell them what to think. The began to use their own reason. The Enlightenment however was after the middle ages.
Did people use tidal power generation in the middle ages?
ih iuio opoi miopo
Use the word middle ages in a sentence?
The Middle Ages was a time between ancient and modern times.
Did people have clay pipes in medieval times?
The Europeans did not have tobacco in the middle ages, so they did not use clay pipes, at least not in Europe.
