the name of a particular coin or money series, but perfectly generally for almost any and every coin—as synonymous, in fact, with the simple word money itself.
Neglecting this latter question, however, as one of nomenclature merely, the course of depreciation of the maravedi may be thus illustrated:—
Maravedi (Moorish coin), fine gold, about 56 grs. By the time of James I. of Aragon, the contents in fine gold had sunk to 14 grs. Page 321
Having been still further reduced to 10 grs. under Alfonso the Wise, it was made into a silver coin, as being too small to be expressed in gold.
Its depreciation in this latter form and through its third form of billon money was as follows:—
| Date. | Number of Maravedis to the Cologne Mark. | Contents of Fine Silver, Grains. |
|---|---|---|
| 1312 | 130 | 25.85 |
| 1324 | 125 | 26.86 |
| 1368 | 200 | 16.79 |
| 1379 | 250 | 13.43 |
| 1390 | 500 | 6.71 |
| 1406 | 1000 | 3.35 |
| 1454 | 2250 | 1.49 |
| 1550 | 2210 | 1.52 |
| 1808 | 5440 | 0.62 |