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Description

This picture is the #2 from my art project "coins mentioned in literature".

The Count of Monte Cristo,with a plot mainly based on wealth,mentioned quite a lot of European money at early 19th century.

In this picture I choose the coins around the time of the story takes place. As for Italian currency,Alexander Dumas used piatre as an universal unit;but actually Rome,which is the center of the Papal State,has its own currency,the Roman Scudo. Also,there are all kinds of currency in the names of piatre ,lira and ducat around Italy at that time. A piastre is roughly equivalent to a Spanish dollar,or "Piece of Eight".

Also,the Venetian sequin/ducat/zecchini has an design almost unchanged from 14-18th century!

All coins here are hand drawn and shown with correct relative proportions here.

Description

This picture is the #2 from my art project "coins mentioned in literature".

The Count of Monte Cristo,with a plot mainly based on wealth,mentioned quite a lot of European money at early 19th century.

In this picture I choose the coins around the time of the story takes place. As for Italian currency,Alexander Dumas used piatre as an universal unit;but actually Rome,which is the center of the Papal State,has its own currency,the Roman Scudo. Also,there are all kinds of currency in the names of piatre ,lira and ducat around Italy at that time. A piastre is roughly equivalent to a Spanish dollar,or "Piece of Eight".

Also,the Venetian sequin/ducat/zecchini has an design almost unchanged from 14-18th century!

All coins here are hand drawn and shown with correct relative proportions here.