Chapter I

From the Commencement of Gold Coinages to the Discovery of America, 1252-1492

Recommencement of gold coinages in Europe, 1; in Italy, 3; Germany,
6; France, 9; Flanders, 10; Holland, Spain, and England, 11;
characteristics of the first period, 13; general depreciation of the
standard, 15; monetary experience of Italy, 17; the Florentine
troubles, 18; monetary experience of Spain, 23; the Cortes of
Valladolid, 24; monetary experience of Germany, 25; the Mint
conventions, 26; tables of the groschen and gulden, 30, 31; monetary
experience of France, 31; arbitrary debasements, 32; course of the
monies under Philippe de Valois, 35; the States-General of France,
1420, 37; Charles VII., 38; Louis XI. and Charles VIII., 39; general
statement of the ratio, 40; monetary experience of England, 41;
Edward III.'s issues of gold, 42; the measures of, 1353, 45;
complaints of 1381, and the monetary investigation, 50; recoinage of
1414, 55; recoinage of Henry VI., 58.