14-01-2023, 08:10 AM
There is quite a bit on this topic in Rudolf's account books.
Unfortunately, the transliteration of a very large part of it that used to be online has disappeared.
In the days of Rudolf, the silver Taler was worth 70 "Kreuzer" while the gold florin was 60 "Kreuzer".
Beside these, many transactions involved "Dukaten" (gold) or "Cronen" (gold), whose value was not constant. I just checked and found a nice example, where the Crone was worth 67 Kreuzer while the ducat was 84 Kreuzer.
In this case, 600 florins would indeed be a lot less than 600 ducats.
After 1620, the silver Taler was deliberately devaluated in order to hurt the rich nobility.
I include the above-mentioned example:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1595 Januar 27, Prag
Waßmaßen der hofzalmaister die unlenngst Niclaßen Warkotsch zu seiner Moscowitischen
legation an unndterschiedliche ortt zu verehren zuegestelte zwo große guldene ketten
aus besondern formb mit irer Mt. daran hangenden bildtnußen p. 416 cronen sambt 10
ducaten macherlohn, dann für zween beßwar, welche der Geizkhofler p. 600 fl. erkhaufft
zum goldt einfaßen 7 cronen und 8 taler macherlohn, ferner umb 3 uhrn 385 fl. wider 450
taler, weitter 300 taler und also in allem 2355 fl. 41 kr. in außgab einbrinngen und
verreiten.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
Rudolf agrees to spend 416 Cronen plus 10 Dukaten plus 600 Florin plus 7 Cronen and 8 Taler plus
385 Florin plus 450 Taler plus 300 Taler, which is altogether 2355 Florin and 41 Kreuzer.
Nice math problem :-)
Off-topic:
When I was young, in Holland we had "Gulden", "Daalder" and "Rijksdaalder", where the first and third were actually minted in silver and worth 1 fl. and 2.5 fl. respectively. The daalder was not a physical coin, but worth 1.5 fl. As is well known, the Crone became the currency of the Czech republic, while the Taler lives on as the dollar.
Unfortunately, the transliteration of a very large part of it that used to be online has disappeared.
In the days of Rudolf, the silver Taler was worth 70 "Kreuzer" while the gold florin was 60 "Kreuzer".
Beside these, many transactions involved "Dukaten" (gold) or "Cronen" (gold), whose value was not constant. I just checked and found a nice example, where the Crone was worth 67 Kreuzer while the ducat was 84 Kreuzer.
In this case, 600 florins would indeed be a lot less than 600 ducats.
After 1620, the silver Taler was deliberately devaluated in order to hurt the rich nobility.
I include the above-mentioned example:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1595 Januar 27, Prag
Waßmaßen der hofzalmaister die unlenngst Niclaßen Warkotsch zu seiner Moscowitischen
legation an unndterschiedliche ortt zu verehren zuegestelte zwo große guldene ketten
aus besondern formb mit irer Mt. daran hangenden bildtnußen p. 416 cronen sambt 10
ducaten macherlohn, dann für zween beßwar, welche der Geizkhofler p. 600 fl. erkhaufft
zum goldt einfaßen 7 cronen und 8 taler macherlohn, ferner umb 3 uhrn 385 fl. wider 450
taler, weitter 300 taler und also in allem 2355 fl. 41 kr. in außgab einbrinngen und
verreiten.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
Rudolf agrees to spend 416 Cronen plus 10 Dukaten plus 600 Florin plus 7 Cronen and 8 Taler plus
385 Florin plus 450 Taler plus 300 Taler, which is altogether 2355 Florin and 41 Kreuzer.
Nice math problem :-)
Off-topic:
When I was young, in Holland we had "Gulden", "Daalder" and "Rijksdaalder", where the first and third were actually minted in silver and worth 1 fl. and 2.5 fl. respectively. The daalder was not a physical coin, but worth 1.5 fl. As is well known, the Crone became the currency of the Czech republic, while the Taler lives on as the dollar.