History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2Gibbon, Edward
History
History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire — Volume 2
Gibbon, Edward
Byzantine Empire -- History -- To 527; Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.
178 (return) [ Godefroy (Cod. Theod. tom. vi. p. 116) argues with
weight and learning on the subject of the capitation; but while
he explains the _caput_, as a share or measure of property, he
too absolutely excludes the idea of a personal assessment.]
179 (return) [ Quid profuerit (_Julianus_) anhelantibus extremâ
penuriâ Gallis, hinc maxime claret, quod primitus partes eas
ingressus, pro _capitibus_ singulis tributi nomine vicenos quinos
aureos reperit flagitari; discedens vero septenos tantum numera
universa complentes. Ammian. l. xvi. c. 5.]
180 (return) [ In the calculation of any sum of money under
Constantine and his successors, we need only refer to the
excellent discourse of Mr. Greaves on the Denarius, for the proof
of the following principles; 1. That the ancient and modern Roman
pound, containing 5256 grains of Troy weight, is about one
twelfth lighter than the English pound, which is composed of 5760
of the same grains. 2. That the pound of gold, which had once
been divided into forty-eight _aurei_, was at this time coined
into seventy-two smaller pieces of the same denomination. 3. That
five of these aurei were the legal tender for a pound of silver,
and that consequently the pound of gold was exchanged for
fourteen pounds eight ounces of silver, according to the Roman,
or about thirteen pounds according to the English weight. 4. That
the English pound of silver is coined into sixty-two shillings.
From these elements we may compute the Roman pound of gold, the
usual method of reckoning large sums, at forty pounds sterling,
and we may fix the currency of the _aureus_ at somewhat more than
eleven shillings. * Note: See, likewise, a Dissertation of M.
Letronne, “Considerations Génerales sur l’Evaluation des Monnaies
Grecques et Romaines” Paris, 1817—M.]
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