The handsomest and best preserved coin ordinarily current was the florin, worth two pauls and a half.

Gold we rarely saw, but golden sequins (_zecchini_) were in existence, and were traditionally used, as it was said, for I have no experience in the matter, in the payment by the government of prizes won in the lottery.
Now, after this statement the reader will be in a position to appreciate the further information that a flask of excellent Chianti, of a quality rarely met with nowadays, was ordinarily sold for one paul.

The flask contained (legal measure) seven troy pounds weight of liquid, or about three bottles.

The same sum purchased a good fowl in the market.

The subscription (_abbuonamento_) to the Pergola, the principal theatre, came to exactly two crazie and a half for each night of performance.