W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

468 The Coins of Europe
over from the Carlovingian to the Capetian dynasty, with a
host of feoffees, each of whom struck his or her own money,
and in course of time produced currencies which emulated
in variety, if they did not eclipse in artistic pretensions, the
regal one. The latter in the thirteenth century began to
follow two standards, those of Paris and Tours, of which the
Parisian was the higher by a quarter. The origin of the
Touraine scale was the gradual development of the abbatial
mint at Saint Martin de Tours, which rose from being a
purely local institution, like so many others, to the dignity
of one of the leading seats of coinage under Louis IX., and
the birthplace of the famous gros tournois.
feudal dependents, following in their steps,
Taking first in order the regal series, we proceed to
observe relatively the same gradual and leisurely progression
which has been marked elsewhere. During whole centuries
the French kings of the house of Capet, and their great
remained content
with the denier and the obole of the two standards,
struck at mints spread over various parts of the country, and
liable to variation and displacement from reign to reign.
In the time of Philippe II.
Augustus (i 180-1223) twelve
seats of coinage are cited by the authorities the denier was
;
produced at all of these points, the obole at four only
Paris, Arras, Bourges, and Laon, which may shew that the
circulation of the lower value was more restricted. When
we arrive at Louis VIII. (i 223-26) the coinage seems to
have relaxed in its activity, or, a very short term of rule
following a very lengthened one, the specie in hand was
perhaps sufficient to answer immediate demands. But it
was the eve of a second prolonged reign that of Louis
IX. (1226-70) and of a revolution in the monetary system.
During the regency of his mother, Blanche of Castile
(1226-29), Louis may not have initiated the great movement
by which he placed on a new footing the currency of
his country nor can we ascribe to an earlier period than his
;
first return from the Holy Land (1250) the introduction of
the gros a denomination already current in Italy, the Low
Countries, and Germany, but unknown farther westward, and