kingdom of nations

Chapter 249 Gold Coins (Part 2)

Have you tried testing its gold content?

“I’ve only tried the touchstone method (rubbing the surface of gold with a touchstone and judging by the color left), I wouldn’t dare use the fire or acid method, but I heard that these gold coins were sent to Venice to be minted, and like the Ducat, they are at least 99% pure.” The merchant said, turning the gold coin over, “Look, look at this portrait, the color is also very beautiful.”

Not only because it was minted first, but also because it was not officially circulated, resulting in less friction and collisions, and also because the Venetians may have used new minting techniques, making the patterns on the gold coins exceptionally clear.

"Oh my, what a little saint!" exclaimed a traveling merchant who frequently traded on Yalasa Road. If this gold coin had already begun circulating, he wouldn't mind getting one, punching a hole in it, and wearing it around his neck as a talisman. But since it wasn't in circulation, it certainly meant that its current value was no longer what it originally possessed.

He stared intently at the gold coin, almost unable to look away, and asked, "What is the gold content of modern Roman gold coins (referring to Byzantine gold coins)?"

“Eighty-three to eighty-five percent,” one voice replied, and someone immediately laughed and cursed, “Those greedy good dogs!”

Even when the gold coin might have had different meanings, the Isaacs still didn't lose too much money, but the gold content was enough to break even.

“For them, not making money is a loss,” another person countered.

However, most people's attention was drawn to this gold coin. It was so perfectly crafted that, although it was only slightly larger than a thumbnail, the profile of the head was very clear. They could even see from the small relief that the lord of Cyprus was indeed handsome but had a strong profile, and they could clearly read the proverb "with the Lord" on it.

There was also a smaller pattern. What was it? The merchants were certain it was a number, not a decorative design or distorted letters. "The year of issue, probably a suggestion from the Venetians," said the coin's owner.

"But why use Saracen numerals?"

"Perhaps it's because that lord is currently implementing these policies."

"I think it would be more convenient to use the duodecimal method for calculation."

"Each has its advantages. But these were set up by that lord for the poor."

The merchant's words plunged the tavern into a brief silence. Although Cesar's reputation for benevolence was well-known, they couldn't be sure if a lord would truly adopt a new number system and counting method for the sake of his serfs.

In the past, when merchants heard that a local lord had minted new currency or adopted a new number system, their first reaction was that the lord was trying to make money off it.

After all, what good would it do to enable these serfs to count and calculate?

They were cunning enough as they were, and they would drag their feet—when serving their lord, they would break tools—if the tools weren't their own, they would steal food—you can't imagine how many tricks they had up their sleeves, and they were even more adept at poaching and illegal gathering—men, women, and children, they ravaged the lord's forests, fields, and lakes.

If the lord's stewards and church priests try to make up for the deficit or simply complete the tasks assigned by the lord by fabricating stories, wouldn't it be even more troublesome if the serfs could count?

"He did indeed cut taxes?"

“Yes, I’ve already confirmed it, because he sends tax collectors everywhere.” The voice was deep and resonant. “There’s only poll tax and land tax. If the vineyards, olive groves, or fields are rented, then you have to pay land rent. That’s all—at least for this year.”

"Does he want more soldiers?"

This is the only reason people can think of: soldiers definitely need to be recruited.

But did the previous lords not recruit soldiers? That's right. At this time, the serfs were not only working hard, but also fighting for their lords. They had to shed their last drop of blood when the Saracens attacked, perhaps for their land, perhaps for their wives and children, or even for themselves.

Although they are serfs now, they can at least live before they are completely unable to work. But once they become slaves of the Saracens, it is hard to say. Not to mention, the Saracens will burn villages and massacre civilians.

The merchant remained silent, but simply flipped the gold coin over. What appeared on the other side was not the Jesus Christ surrounded by stars, as people commonly see, but a cross. The merchant gazed at it, kissed it, and then carefully tucked it into the innermost part of his clothes before putting away the reliquary and the small pouch, and hanging it on his waist.

"Were only gold coins minted?" another person asked. "Were there any silver or copper coins?"

"Yes." The merchant then took out two silver coins and a handful of copper coins for everyone to admire. Of course, they couldn't just hold them in their hands to look at them casually. Although their value was not as high as gold coins, it was still higher than most of their kind. After being given permission, one of the merchant's friends held up a silver coin and a copper coin for comparison.

He then noticed the difference between silver and copper coins. "What is this?" he asked, referring to the fine lines along the edge of the silver coin.

"It's to prevent anyone from using tricks to grind off some scraps—there are some on the gold coins too, you just haven't noticed."

"But this can't be obtained by casting a mold or hammering, right?"

"Indeed, no. I heard from their craftsmen that they polished these pieces one by one with a grinding wheel. Although there weren't many, it still exhausted them."

After all, that's ten thousand gold coins and thirty thousand silver coins. Fortunately, there's no need for copper coins.

This remark drew a burst of laughter. "Even the Isaacs wouldn't want to grind scraps off copper coins to sell!"

"Who knows?" The merchant shrugged dismissively. "I heard they're still trying to figure out if there's an easier way to engrave these patterns."

"I really hope they can finish it soon," the merchant said. "If they can, I'll use Cypriot gold coins in all my future transactions. This will ensure that every coin I and my trading partners receive is the correct weight."

"No wonder the Isaacs wanted to buy these gold coins."

Everyone likes things that are golden, but no one cares more about the reputation that gold coins represent than merchants. Just like when doing business, a good has a fixed price, but whether the buyer offers Roman gold coins or gold coins minted by Christian countries will inevitably affect the seller's willingness to sell.

At least a businessman would definitely choose the former.

Now, compared to the suddenly popular Venetian gold coins, they may have another new and trustworthy medium of exchange.

“Ten thousand gold coins is far too few. Does that lord just want us to wear them as ornaments around our necks?” one merchant complained.

"There's no other way. I heard that the Knights of Bethlehem, the Earl of Edessa, and the Lord of Cyprus have contributed a large sum of money for this expedition."

"How much?" "Probably half of all his assets now."

“That’s really unavoidable. They are the spear and shield of our holy city,” a merchant from Arazar said proudly. “They are more loyal and closer than any brother or friend. But if they can conquer Damascus, the king will reward him many times over, and then he might be willing to mint more gold coins.”

"Do you think...we can win this time?" one of them whispered. It wasn't that he intended to spoil their fun, but in the last few decades, God and the saints seemed to have stopped favoring the Crusaders. "It's all because those...knights have lost their piety and courage..."

"Hush!" Someone immediately shouted to stop them. The merchant from Arrasa Road immediately shouted, "Of course, we will definitely win a great victory. Perhaps you don't know, but I have already obtained permission to join the army."

People immediately stirred: "How did you get the permit? Didn't you say it was no longer available?"

Even the merchant who had taken out the gold coins became uneasy. He eagerly grabbed the man, wanting to ask for more details. Who wouldn't want to go on a military expedition? The daily consumption of the army could bring each merchant a considerable profit. An army of more than 10,000 people was like a moving city. Oil, charcoal, cloth, wheat, barley, livestock, wine... even clean water could become goods.

Not to mention, if we could capture Damascus... God, that would be a paradise on earth.

The merchants present naturally hoped to obtain a special permit from King Arrassal, just like those who had accompanied Amalric I on his expedition to Egypt—like Fustat, who, before the smoke of battle had cleared and the wailing had ceased, even with courtyards and streets piled high with corpses, would eagerly enter the city and buy the exquisite yet inexpensive spoils from the Crusaders. These items, with just a few resales, could yield tenfold, or even a hundredfold, profits.

Besides these people, some itinerant merchants and artisans were lost in thought. Whether in the countryside or the city, artisans and merchants often had ordinary farmers as relatives.

They might have their own small plot of land, or they might just be tenant farmers, but if, as the merchant said, the lords of Cyprus were so generous as to abolish miscellaneous and additional taxes, requiring only land tax and poll tax, and even the church's tithes would certainly still have to be paid—but for those honest and simple-minded farmers, it was already paradise.

After all, it only takes a few years for a family rooted in the land to prosper—as long as the priests and knights have collected their taxes and there's still enough food left for a couple and their children, just watch. In just a few years, infants crying in their swaddling clothes can become laborers doing odd jobs in the fields, and a few years later, they'll be proper workers in the fields.

Meanwhile, newborns are constantly being born. As the population grows, they can cultivate and farm more land, obtain more food, and support more people, which will create a virtuous cycle.

Many wealthy farmers have rapidly expanded their wealth during those few years of good fortune, but he cannot be sure whether the other party is exaggerating or if it is true.

However, Cyprus is not far from Arrasa Road, so they can try to find out.

There were also some people who wore hats, dressed in black, and had gloomy expressions.

When the laughing patrons spoke contemptuously of the Isaacs, comparing them to pigs and dogs, the younger ones might show a hint of anger, but the older ones were already used to it. They pulled the younger members of their tribe aside and led them out of the tavern.

“This is truly a troublesome matter,” said their great sage that evening in the synagogue of Isaac on Arazar Road.

"How is the situation in Bethlehem?" The Great Sage looked at the Sage of Bethlehem, who stood up, bowed to the Great Sage with a worried expression, shook his head, and said nothing.

He succeeded to this position by replacing the previous wise man, who had been expelled because he and the Isaacs in the city had made two mistakes.

The first time was when they heard that the Knight of Bethlehem, Cesar, was trapped in Damascus and had become a slave of the Saracens, they were misled by Lego and thought it was a golden opportunity.

They thought they could manage to buy Cesar out, given his good reputation and the fact that he might not be able to pay the ransom. They could ask him to favor them in future policies, granting them franchises, licenses, or permits—and they would reward him for it, not make him work for free.

Lego convinced the others that it was a worthwhile and highly profitable deal. However, Saladin, the Saracen vizier, did not take them seriously at all. He saw through their plan immediately. Not only did they lose a large sum of money, but they were also forced to be driven out of Damascus like criminals, wearing only a long linen undergarment.

Moreover, the wise men of the Synagogue of Isaac in Damascus and his students were also displayed on the city walls as a warning.

Logically, after this defeat, Lego should have been more restrained, but he had the common flaw of all Isaacs: always wanting to gamble big with small stakes. He was like a gambler holding onto his last few chips, trying to deceive the Christians in Bethlehem into believing that their lord was on his side.

But before the plan could be fully implemented, someone informed César of it. César reacted quickly, refusing their bribes and flattery. Lego and his accomplices were all whipped dozens of times and driven out of Bethlehem covered in blood.

Along with his son-in-law Jacques, a Christian, he was also expelled from Arazare Road.

From that time onward, the Isaacs gradually realized that Cesar might not be the kind of ruler who could be easily swayed by gold and women; he was their most formidable enemy, far more so than those greedy and arrogant rulers.

What angered the Isaacs most was that Cesar's hatred of them was not even because of their faith.

In his first marriage, he married a Byzantine princess who was a follower of the orthodox Church, while in his second marriage, his wife was a Venetian, whose hypocrisy and rebelliousness were well-known.

"Where are Le Guerre and his son-in-law now?"

“They went to Nazareth,” one replied. Lego was indeed a very courageous man; after being whipped, he suffered from a high fever and was in and out of consciousness. Even so, he managed to sell his batch of soap for a good price.

Of course, he didn't make a deal with his own people. He knew their character all too well. The person he made the deal with was a knight from the Hospitallers. Although he bargained down the price, it was enough for Lego to establish himself in Nareza. Even if he couldn't say he had made a comeback, he was starting to see some prosperity.

"Did Le Guau ever say what kind of person he was? If he couldn't be moved by mundane things, then what about sacred objects, chapels, or churches?"

The king is preparing for an expedition to Damascus and must be in great need of money. Will he accept our donation?

“I have tried,” one merchant said, “but was refused. However, the Count of Tripoli and the Grand Duke of Antioch gladly accepted the gifts we sent.” Even if these two were indebted to the Isaacs, they might not necessarily do anything for them.

But compared to the clear-cut stance taken by the King of Arrassal and the Cypriot lord, the attitudes of these two were much more reassuring. The Isaacs had wandered for a thousand years; they were not afraid of angry neighbors, fierce knights, or greedy nobles and kings. Their greatest fear was that they would no longer be of use.

They steadfastly adhered to their faith, clothing, and diet. They knew that in the eyes of Christians, they were heretics—more despicable than pagans. But how could they be so brazen and unrestrained? It was because they knew those in power needed them.

"He must have been influenced by that person. The king is still young, after all; one day he will realize that we are indispensable."

"And now?" someone asked this inopportune question, which made the Great Sage glare at the person. The person realized his mistake and lowered his head, while the Great Sage could only sigh deeply and look at the Sage of Nalissa.

"Go and contact Lego."

(End of this chapter)