Italian money

[Khalid ibn Walid]

Just some place to throw some notes:

Currency

Uses the Carolingian L.s.d. system:

Pound (lira), shillings (soldi), pence (denari)

1 L = 20s = 240d
1s = 12d

[Khalid ibn Walid]

Price examples in 13th C. Italy (all from Romagna region, Ravenna/Bologna, etc.):


Land (purchase)

Bushel of corn = 12s 6d (= 150d)

Pound of salt = 4 d

2.5 acres of vineyard = L.28 (= 6,720d. = 2,688 d. per acre

4 acres of good ploughland = L.50 (= 12,000d. = 3,000 d. per acre)

1.5 acres of cheap ploughland (= 1440 d. = 960 d. per acre)

Houses (purchase):

Two-story aristocratic house w/courtyard, well, garden, outbuildings, some land & granary = L. 600 (= 144,000 d.)

Townhouses: range from L. 24 (= 5,760 d) in poorer areas to L. 75 (= 18,000 d).

Village houses: range from: L.30 (= 7,200 d) to L.60 (= 14,400 d.)

Inn (purchase outright): L.400 (= 96,000 d.)

Chemist shop (lease per year) = L.50 (= 12,000 d.)

Capital

Mill = L.1200 (= 288,000 d. !!)

Cow (before fattening) = L.10 (= 2,400 d.)

Ass = L. 8 (= 1,920 d.)

Rowboat: L.10 (= 2,400 d.)

Boat with two sails: L.250 (= 60,000 d.)

Public Costs

town clock: L.100 (= 24,000 d.)

public lavatory = L. 15 (= 600 d.)

erection of gallows and execution of a thief = L.4 (= 960 d.)

Interest rate (official) = 30% per annum. Banker rates considerably higher.

Clothes

Skirt & long cloak, decorated with pearls, second-hand: L.22 (= 5,280 d.)

Belt of woven silk & silver = L.14 (= 3,360 d.)

French silk purse = L.4 8s. (= 1,056 d.)

Short loose cloak, lined = L.2 (= 480 d.)

Short loose cloak, unlined = L.1 10s (= 360 d.)

Man's velvet jacket = L.1 15s. (= 420 d.)

Lady's mantle, lined = L.1 (= 240 d.)

Loose jacket = 15 s. (= 180d.)

Surplice = 12 s (= 144d.)

Lined hood = 3s (= 36 d.)

Pair of strong heavy shoes = 3s (= 36 d.)

Miscellaneous:

Tartar slave-girl = L. 49 6s (= 11,832 d.)

Religious lunette painting = L. 5 (= 1,200 d.)

Book: L.44 (= 10,560 d.!!)

Funeral: L. 10 (= 2,400 d.)

Dowry for wife of a nobleman = L.1,500 (= 360,000 d.)

Dowry for wife of a doctor = L. 400 (= 96,000 d.)

Dowry for wife of a cook = L.50 (= 12,000 d.)


Annual incomes

Schoolmaster in commune = btw L.25 (= 6,000 d.) & 50 (= 12,000 d.) per year, plus donations from parents.

Doctor in commune = L.300 (= 72,000 d.) per year from commune, plus charge up to L.3 (= 720 d.) to seriously ill patients

Clerk of pawnbroker = L.30 (= 7,200 d.)

Mercenary footsoldier = L.2 (= 480d) per month.

Manure-gatherer in city & deliverer to field = L.2 (= 480 d.)per job.

Daily wages

Day-laborers: 7s (=84 d) per day in Spring (March-April), 5s (60) per day in winter (November-February)

Mowers: 10s in May, 7s (= 84d) in August-Sep.

Reapers: 7s (= 84 d) in August-Sep.

Threshers: 6s (= 72 d) in August-Sep.

Masons & carpenters: 7s (=84d) in Mar-Sep, 6s (=72 d) otherwise.

Construction laborers: 4s (=48 d) in Mar-Oct, 3s 6 d + food (= 42 d. + food) otherwise.

Other charges:

Smiths:
- 2d for sharpening agricultural instruments,
- 2s 6d (= 30 d) per shoe for shoeing horses, 2s (= 24 d) per shoe if small horse, 1s (= 12d) for asses

Man with oxcart = L.6 10s ( = 1,560 d) per month to transport stones & wood

Priest 2s (= 24 d) per mass.

Poverty level (1291): less than L.15 (= 3,600) yearly was regarded as the official Church poverty line (get entry to charity poorhouses).

[druikin]

This was a good amount of research, I am amazed you got all of this. Do you remember where you found it all?

-Druikin

[ingolifs]

Wow. Any findings on the cost of weapons?

[nikeforos]

Wow!
I'm impressed.

so the average cost for a footman is 2 lire?

[Deleted]

Will these prices eventually be applied to the game mechanics?
Really interesting that there was an actual poverty line back then, btw.