In the Netherlands the ratio in { 1520 " 10.68 { 1540 " 10.62 In England { 1527 " 11.23 { 1552 " 11.1 In Germany { 1524 " 11.38 { 1551 " 11.38 Broadly speaking, therefore, there is a certain homogeneity about the first two periods, 1493-1520 and 1520-48, of the new era. These fifty-five years mark a time of general advance on prices achieved by 1520 and maintained unequally up to 1548, but an advance which was steadily and almost fairly level on the two lines of gold and silver, so that the perfectly well-established advance of prices generally is accompanied with no great disturbance of the ratio in itself. In contrast with this all the succeeding periods have, up to 1660, a distinct character and statistical bearing. An enormous and ever-increasing advance in general prices occurs, but it is no longer, as before, on level lines of the two metals equally. The proportion of the production of the two metals changes, so rich was the yield of the silver mines of Potosi. From being the same with that of gold, the value of silver produced suddenly rises to three times and then to four times that of its rival; and at once the ratio changes, bringing with it all its accompaniment of feverish instability and flux. [Sidenote: STATEMENT OF THE RATIO, 1500-1660] The average result in the ratio was as follows:-- 1545-60 11.30 1561-80 11.50 1581-1600 11.80 1601-20 12.25 1621-40 14.00 1641-60 14.50 1661 15.0 As far as can be ascertained the detailed statement of the ratio during the whole period, 1500-1660, is as follows:--