DOI article:
Witthöft, Harald: Early Medieval mining and smelting in the Harz Mountains - historical perspectives
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.56859#0136
104
coined) and commodities were basically calculated and traded in firm, permanent
numerical ratios.14
A key document supporting this thesis - and demonstrating regional diffe-
rences - is Charlemagne's Saxonian capitulary from 797. The solidus (silver) was
reckoned equal
1. to an one year old ox,
2. to 40 modii oat or 20 modii rye of the Bortrini,
3. to 30 modii oat or 15 modii rye of the Septemtrionales or
4. to 12 denarii of the Empire in silver.15
Equally revealing is a report in the Annales Fuldenses for the year 882, which
have survived in two manuscripts written in different monasteries. They
obviously make use of weights of different regional standards to document the
same fact: The Viking Gottfried agreed on a profitable treaty with the Emperor
Charles the Fat. As a tribute the Viking received - as one of the manuscripts tells
us - a bit more than 2080 librae (yelpaulo plus), possibly 2083 1/3 librae in auro
et ar gent o)6
The historical sciences up to now have been at a loss in understanding this
formula.17 The solution lies in a fixed gold-silver-ratio of 12:1 as the basis of the
older monetary system - dating back into antiquity and still regarded to be
fundamental up to the end of the 16th century.18 This structural tradition enables us
to reconstruct the Carolingian monetary system - in numerical ratios and in
metric terms. Moreover, it allows us to interpret the tribute of 882 in gram and
kilogram silver (Ag) and/or gold (Au) (WITTHÖFT 1984a, 2; 1985b, 30):
14 Witthöft 1984a, 2 sqq.; 1997, 223 sqq.; 1999. - Already W. Ridgeway has discussed,
under comparable assumptions, the „primitive systems of currency“, and has criticised
e. g. views held by „Boeckh and his school“ (Ridgeway 1892, 388). - For the social
implications vid. e. g. Oexle 1994.
15 Witthöft 1984a, 12; 139 sq. - For the relevant political changes in Saxony and
Thuringia in relation to an early exploitation of the mineral ressources of the Harz
Mountains and in connection with the early settlements in this area: Brachmann 1992.
16 Witthöft 1983, 459 sqq. The other manuscript mentions 2412 librae (ibid.).
17 Even P. Spufford in commenting the state of research does not go beyond simply stating
that „it is perhaps significant that the Danegelds paid by the western Franks from the 840s
onwards should have contained a little gold as well as a great deal of silver, although it is
not of course clear whether or not this was coined gold“ (Spufford 1988, 51; 61 sqq.).
18 Witthöft 1984a, 28 sqq.; 1991. This ratio is also confirmed e. g. by Spufford 1988,
51.
coined) and commodities were basically calculated and traded in firm, permanent
numerical ratios.14
A key document supporting this thesis - and demonstrating regional diffe-
rences - is Charlemagne's Saxonian capitulary from 797. The solidus (silver) was
reckoned equal
1. to an one year old ox,
2. to 40 modii oat or 20 modii rye of the Bortrini,
3. to 30 modii oat or 15 modii rye of the Septemtrionales or
4. to 12 denarii of the Empire in silver.15
Equally revealing is a report in the Annales Fuldenses for the year 882, which
have survived in two manuscripts written in different monasteries. They
obviously make use of weights of different regional standards to document the
same fact: The Viking Gottfried agreed on a profitable treaty with the Emperor
Charles the Fat. As a tribute the Viking received - as one of the manuscripts tells
us - a bit more than 2080 librae (yelpaulo plus), possibly 2083 1/3 librae in auro
et ar gent o)6
The historical sciences up to now have been at a loss in understanding this
formula.17 The solution lies in a fixed gold-silver-ratio of 12:1 as the basis of the
older monetary system - dating back into antiquity and still regarded to be
fundamental up to the end of the 16th century.18 This structural tradition enables us
to reconstruct the Carolingian monetary system - in numerical ratios and in
metric terms. Moreover, it allows us to interpret the tribute of 882 in gram and
kilogram silver (Ag) and/or gold (Au) (WITTHÖFT 1984a, 2; 1985b, 30):
14 Witthöft 1984a, 2 sqq.; 1997, 223 sqq.; 1999. - Already W. Ridgeway has discussed,
under comparable assumptions, the „primitive systems of currency“, and has criticised
e. g. views held by „Boeckh and his school“ (Ridgeway 1892, 388). - For the social
implications vid. e. g. Oexle 1994.
15 Witthöft 1984a, 12; 139 sq. - For the relevant political changes in Saxony and
Thuringia in relation to an early exploitation of the mineral ressources of the Harz
Mountains and in connection with the early settlements in this area: Brachmann 1992.
16 Witthöft 1983, 459 sqq. The other manuscript mentions 2412 librae (ibid.).
17 Even P. Spufford in commenting the state of research does not go beyond simply stating
that „it is perhaps significant that the Danegelds paid by the western Franks from the 840s
onwards should have contained a little gold as well as a great deal of silver, although it is
not of course clear whether or not this was coined gold“ (Spufford 1988, 51; 61 sqq.).
18 Witthöft 1984a, 28 sqq.; 1991. This ratio is also confirmed e. g. by Spufford 1988,
51.