CHAPTER II. Primitive Systems of Currency.

in calf, her milk is worth 16 den. Thus the milch cow is worth 46 den. , and up to August she is worth 48 den. , up to November 50 den. , and up to May of the fourth year is worth 60 den. A month’s milk is worth 4 den. ; a bull calf 6 den. , the young ox when put to the plough is worth 28 den. , when he can plough, 48 den. , that is the same as the young milch cow of the same age; a gelding is worth 80 den. , a farmer’s mare 60 den. , a trained horse is worth half a libra ; a bow with twelve arrows is worth 7 denarii and an obolus ; a queen bee ( modred af ) is worth 24 den. , the first swarm 16 den. , the second 12, the third 8; a foal is worth 18 den. to 24 den. , a two year old 48 den. , a three year old 96 den. A young male slave ( iuvenis captivus ) is worth 1 libra , a slave both young and of large stature ( captivus iuvenis et magnus ) is worth 1½ libra . It would appear that the Welsh, when taking over the Roman system, had adjusted their own highest barter-unit, the slave (probably female as well as male), to the libra or pound, the highest unit in the Roman system. Of course slaves of exceptional strength or beauty would