1which the ordinary people call nummi41; each of these units we again divide
into twenty-four units of four siliquae each, which the same ordinary people
call a grenlin; or else the bes is divided into sixteen semunciae which
are called loths, each of which is again divided into eighteen units of four
silíquae each, which they call grenlín. Or else the bes is divided into
sixteen semuncíae, of which each is divided into four drachmae, and
each drachma into four pfennige. Needles are made in accordance with
each method of dividing the bes. According to the first method, to the
number of twenty-four half nummí; according to the second method, to the
number of thirty-one half semuncíae, that is to say a sícílícus; for if the
needles were made to the number of the smaller weights, the number of
needles would again be too large, and not a few of them, by reason of the
small difference in proportion of silver or copper, would have no significance.
We test both bars and coined money composed of silver and copper by both
scales. The one is as follows: the first needle is made of twenty-three
parts of copper and one part silver; whereby, whatsoever bar or coin, when
rubbed on the touchstone, colours it just as this needle does, in that bar or
money there is one twenty-fourth part of silver, and so also, in accordance
with the proportion of silver, is known the remaining proportion of the copper.
into twenty-four units of four siliquae each, which the same ordinary people
call a grenlin; or else the bes is divided into sixteen semunciae which
are called loths, each of which is again divided into eighteen units of four
silíquae each, which they call grenlín. Or else the bes is divided into
sixteen semuncíae, of which each is divided into four drachmae, and
each drachma into four pfennige. Needles are made in accordance with
each method of dividing the bes. According to the first method, to the
number of twenty-four half nummí; according to the second method, to the
number of thirty-one half semuncíae, that is to say a sícílícus; for if the
needles were made to the number of the smaller weights, the number of
needles would again be too large, and not a few of them, by reason of the
small difference in proportion of silver or copper, would have no significance.
We test both bars and coined money composed of silver and copper by both
scales. The one is as follows: the first needle is made of twenty-three
parts of copper and one part silver; whereby, whatsoever bar or coin, when
rubbed on the touchstone, colours it just as this needle does, in that bar or
money there is one twenty-fourth part of silver, and so also, in accordance
with the proportion of silver, is known the remaining proportion of the copper.