Who sold the Voynich MS to Rudolf

[Hubert Dale]

Gold and silver ratios could and did vary when states tried to use bimetallic precious metal coinages.

Rudolf may have used one denomination (eg taler or ducat) for his accounts. His treasury, however, probably contained all sorts of coins then in circulation, just as banks today keep gold in bars and coins of various kinds. Then and now, as long as the weight and fineness of each denomination is known, this presents no problems.

So while Rudolf’s accounts may refer to x-hundred talers (for example), if the seller wanted (say) ducats, he could have been physically paid in ducats and the taler equivalent entered in Rudolf’s ledger.