Since it is rarely found that gold, which has been coined, does not amount to
at least fifteen duellae of gold in a bes, some make only twenty-eight needles, and
some make them different from those already described, inasmuch as the
alloy of gold with silver and copper is sometimes differently proportioned.
at least fifteen duellae of gold in a bes, some make only twenty-eight needles, and
some make them different from those already described, inasmuch as the
alloy of gold with silver and copper is sometimes differently proportioned.
These needles are made:—
Gold.
Silver.
Copper.
Sext-
Sext-
Duellae.
Duellae
Siliquae.
Duellae
Siliquae.
ulae
ulae
The 1st of
15
6
1
8
2
1/2
4
The 2nd of
15
6
4
2
1 1/2
8
The 3rd of
15
5
1/2
3
1 1/2
The 4th of
16
6
1/2
1
1 1/2
The 5th of
16
5
1
8
2
1/2
4
The 6th of
16
4
1 1/2
8
3
4
The 7th of
17
5
1
4
1
1/2
8
The 8th of
17
5
4
1
1 1/2
8
The 9th of
17
4
1
4
2
1/2
8
The 10th of
18
4
1
1
1
The 11th of
18
4
2
The 12th of
18
3
1
2
1
The 13th of
19
3
1 1/2
4
1
8
The 14th of
19
3
1/2
4
1
1
8
The 15th of
19
2
1 1/2
4
2
8
The 16th of
20
3
1
The 17th of
20
2
1
1
The 18th of
20
2
2
The 19th of
21
2
1/2
4
1
8
The 20th of
21
1
1 1/2
4
1
8
The 21st of
21
1
1
8
1
1/2
4
The 22nd of
22
1
1
8
1/2
4
The 23rd of
22
1
1
1
The 24th of
22
1
1/2
4
1
8
The 25th of
23
1 1/2
4
8
The 26th of
23
1 1/2
1/2
The 27th of
23
1
8
1/2
4
The 28th of
pure gold
Next follows the fourth kind of needles, by which we test silver coins
which contain copper, or copper coins which contain silver. The bes by
which we weigh the silver is divided in two different ways. It is either
divided twelve times, into units of five drachmae and one scrípulum each,
which contain copper, or copper coins which contain silver. The bes by
which we weigh the silver is divided in two different ways. It is either
divided twelve times, into units of five drachmae and one scrípulum each,