World Coins Dictionary of Numismatic Names M.

Maccaroni Pieces. See Maeqnina.
Maccochino. See Macquina.
Mace. The name g-iven by foreigners
to the Cliineae Ch'ien (q.v.) or Tsien, the
tenth part of a Tael or Liang. In the
modern strnck Chinese silver coinage the
following piec^es bear the name Mace:
7 Maci' 2 t'aliilari'ciis (ir Dollar (Viiau)
."{ Mace G Cnllilurot'ns or half Dollar
1 Mail' 4.4 CanilariM-ns or fifth Dollar
See Tael and Ynan.
Mace. A gold coin of Atjeh. See Mas.
Macelinus. Dn C'ange states that this
is an old name for the Marabotin.
Mach. Tlie Annamese word for a tenth
of a siring of Cash. See Qnan.
Macquina, or Macuqina. A Spanish
woril iiieaiiiiig a clii)ped coin. See Cob.
Chalmers states that in Jamaica "the
Mexican (jnarter dollars were called Maccaroni
jiieces, . . . which may be a representative
of Maccoehino, a woi'd still used
in Venezuela to denote cut money, and the
name Maccaroni was transferred to the
Britisli Shilling rated as a quarter Dollar,
and was in vogue in British Honduras."
See Moco.
Macuta. A Portuguese copper coin issued
from the middle of the eighteenth
century for Angola and other African possessions.
The coin has a value of fifty
Reis, and the multiples from two to twelve
Macutas are in silver. All of the preceding
coins are frequently counterstamped.
The low denominations are in copper.
The name is probably derived from the
Makua or Makuana, one of the tribes behind
MDzamliique. See, Fernandes (p.
266).
The Macuta was the basis of the monetary
system in Sierra Leone in the latter
part of the eighteenth century.
Bonneville, Traitr des Monnaics, 1806,
defines it as "monnaie de compte, ou plutot
une maniere de eom]ifer en usage parmi
les nrgres de (|uel(|ues endroits des cotes
d'Afri(iue, |)artieulierement a Loango sur
la cote d" Angola." See also Chalmers
(p. 208).
[1
Mada. A gold coin of ancient Lidia,
the one fourth of the Pagoda. See Paua.
Madonnenthaler. The name given to
any coin on which the Virgin and Child is
depicted, but specially applied to the issues
of Hamburg during the seventeenth
century on which the Madonna seated or
standing is a jirominent feature.
Madonnina. Another name for the Lira
struck at (Jenoa during the eighteenth century.
Tiie obverse has a figure of the Madonna
and on the reverse is a crowned
shield supported by two griffins. There is
a corres|)onding doppia Madonnina and
mezza Madonnina.
In Bologna a silver coin of the value of
six Bologniui received the same name. It
was issued in the sixteenth century under
Pa])al rule.
Madonnina. A Papal copper coin of
the value of five Baiocci, struck by Pius
VI (1775-1798). There are varieties for
Ascoli, Civita Vecchia, Fermo, Gubbio,
Macerata, Perugia, Tivoli, Montalto, Matelica,
Viterbo, San Severino, Ronciglione,
etc. The half was called the Sampietrino,
both coins receiving their designations
from the figures represented thereon.
Madridja. A nickname given to the
Spanish Dobla in Morocco (where this
coin formerly extensivel.v circulated), on
account of its origin. See Noback (p. 243).
It represented a value of ten Miscals or
Mets(|uals. Fonrobert (5696).
Maerra Peninga. This term occurs in
the Anglo-Saxon laws of Aelfred, and is
translated "larger pennies." Ruding (i.
110) thinks that with at least ecpial projiriety,
"it might have been rendered
'pure," or as it would now be called, 'lawful
money. '
"
Mag, ])ossibly an abbreviation of Magjiie
(q.v.). An English slang name for
a half Pennv. It is thus defined bv 6.
I'arker, in Life's Painter, 1781 (p. 129).
Dickens, in Bleak House (xxiii.), uses
tlie phrase "It can't be worth a mag to
him," and Henry Kingsley, in Envenshoe
40 J
Magatama Majhawala
(i. 9) says, "As long as ho had a map to
bless himself with, he would always he a
lazy, useless hiimhiifr. " Sec Mafifry Robli.
Magatama. A piece of jade or agate
in the shajie of a tiger's claw, and supposed
to have been used as a primitive
money in Japan. See Munro (p. 5).
Magdalon. A gold coin issued at Taraseon
and other mints of Provenee. It
W!is struck by Renatus of Anjou (1434-
1480) and by his successors. It bears a
figure of St. Mary Magdalen and the
double cross of Lorraine.
Maggy Robb, or Maggie Rab. According
to -lainieson, El iiiiiological Dictioiinrij
of the Scultlsh Lanijuaije, this was a ]iopular
name for a bad half Penny. He defines
Jlagg as a cant term for a half Peiniy
with the plural Maggs. The latter word
is used in Lothian to designate the gratuity
which servants expect from those to
whom they carry anj' goods.
The same authority cites an Aberdeenshire
saying, "He's a very guid man, but
I trow he's gotten a Maggy Rob o' a
wife."
Magister Thaler. A silver coin of Sachsen-
Weinuir, struck in 1654 to commemorate
the rectorship of the University of
.Jena, which was conferred on Prince
Bernhard. Hrc Madai (No. 1491).
Maglia. The Italian equivalent of the
JMaille {<{.v.) At Casale under Giovanni
111 ( 144.")- 1464), was struck the copper
Maglia di Bianchetto. For detailed accounts
of this issue see Rivista Numismatica,
1867 (ii. 'i), and flfci/c BeUje, 1866
(xi. 3).
Magpie. An English slang term for a
half-pciuiy. Dickens, in Ollrer Twist (viii)
has: "I'm at low-water-mark myself, only
one bob and a magpie." See Mag.
Mah. A money of account in Abyssinia,
twiMity-lwii being eipud to an Ashrafi (q.v.).
Mahallak. A bra.ss coin of El-llarrar, a
|U-ovince of Abyssinia, issued A.H. 1284
and after. See Valentine (p. 82). It was
the one-twentieth part of the Gersli, oi'
Ohrush. The same name was given to the
first silver coin striu-k at pjl-llai'i'ar by
Mcnelik. It has a value equal to the
Egyptian Piasti-e.
Mahbub. Sec Mathbu and Zer-mahbub.
[1
Mahbubia. Tlie name given to the
haridsoiiie silver Rupee iuti'oduced into circulation
in Hyderabad in 1904. It receives
its name from Mir Jlahbub AH
Khan, tlie Nizam of tiie Deei'an, "as a compliment
to the ruler who decliiu'd to abrogate
his currency privileges." The term
Mahbubia Annas is also ajjplied to the
copper coinage of this ride.
Mahmudi, also called Kliodabandi. A
Persian silver coin of the Sufi or Safi d.ynasty.
Its value was one half Abbasi or
two Shahis. It is also known as the Sad-
Diiuir.
At Bassorah, in Asia-Minoi', a money of
account formerly ]U'evailcd based on the
Persian system, as follows
:
1 Toman = Km Maliniftcli iir .Mainiiilis. = 1,000 Diininis ttr Diiuiiiirs, = 10,000 Kliisch,
According to Noback (p. 652), the
Mahmudi was also a former copper coin
of Maskat, and the twentieth jiart of the
Piastre or Spanish Dollar. It was subdivided
into twenty Gass or Goz.
Maille, from a French word signifying
a mesh or a link in a suit of armor, is from
its ])r<)bable resemblance, applied to a .snuill
billon or base silver coin. The Maille
Tierce or demi Gros and the Maille Tournois
were issued under Philip IV of France
(128.5-1314). The Maille Blanche apl)
eared under Charles 1\' (1322-1328). and
other varieties are the .Maille Noire, Maille
Parisis, Maille Bourgeoise, and the Maille
d'Or, the latter a gold coin struck in 1347
by .Telian Bougier of Arras, for the Bi.shopric
of Cambrai.
The Maille was also (•(inniuui in Flanders,
and there are sjiecial issues for Lille, Antwerp,
Brussels, and other towns, which resembled
.small Deniers.
Maillechort. See Argenton.
Maille Noble. A name given to the
half Noble first issued in the I'cign of Edward
III. Sre Noble and Ferling.
Maiorchino. The poinilar name for the
Grosso issued in the island of .Majoi'ca. It
is subdivided into eighteen Piccoli,
Majhawala. Another name for the gold
Mohur of Nepal of the weight of half a
Tola. The word means "a middle coin."
See Suka.
Majorina, or Pecunia Major. A name
given to the largest size of bronze coin
issued by Diocletian after his monetai\v reform.
After Diocletian the piece was issued
only intermittently, notably by Julian
and Valentinian.
Make. An obsolete English dialect and
slang term for a half Penny. See Flag.
In an old poem of 1547 entitled The
Hi/f Wdij to the Spyttel House occurs the
line:
"Docked the dell for a coper meke."
Sir Walter Scott, in his novel Woodstock
(xxxvi.) has, "I take it; for a make
to a million."
Malaque. A silver coin introduced by
Albuquerque, Governor General of Malacca,
in 1510. Sec Caixa.
Maley Groschen. See Maly Groszy.
Malkontentengulden. A series of coins
struck in Hungary under Francis Rakoczy
during the rebellion against Austria, from
1703 to 1711. The\- were issued from 1704
to 1706.
Malla. The smallest of all the Spanish
copper coins. Its value was one half of
a Dinero, and it circulated in Majorca and
Barcelona as early as the fourteenth century.
The name appears to be the Spanish
ef|uiv<ilent for Maille.
Malschilling. A silver denomination of
Anton Giinther, Duke of Oldenburg (1603-
1667, and copied by Adolf, Count of
Bentheim-Tecklenburg.
Maluco. Tiie name given to a cast piece
of eiglity Rcis, struck for the island of
Terceira in lS2fl during the war against
Don iMiguel. The.se coins Avere made from
metal obtained from the bells of the convents.
Sec Mailliet Suppl. (72 i.), and
FiTiiandes (p. 312).
Maly Groszy, or Maley Groschen. The
word iiiiihi ill I'dlish means small, and this
name was ;iiveji to certain diminutive
(iriisclieii issued ill !>olh'mia under Rudolf
II in the latter i)art of the sixteenth century.
Eighty-four w<'re e(|nal to one Gulden
Tlialei'.
Mame Gin. .SV( Clio (iiii.
Mamudi. N" Mahmudi.
Man. Tiie old Annamcse word for a
Quail iq.v.) or string of Cash.
Manah. The Babylonian form of the
iMina (q.v.).
Mancanza. The name given to a Neajiolitan
gold coin of the value of forty
Carlini or four Ducati. It was struck by
Charles III in 1749, and later by Ferdinand
IV. Its weight is two thirds that
of the Oncia.
Man^eau, or Man^ois. See Maiisois.
Mancoso, or Mancuso. A term supposed
to have been derived from the Latin
manns and consequently applied to such
coins as exhibit the figure of a hand. A
Solidus Maneusus of silver is mentioned at
the time of Charlemagne as being equal to
thirty Denarii Nuovi, and an ordinance
of the Abbey of Sesto at Frinli, dated 778,
refers to XX mancoseos auri.
A Denaro ]\Iaiiciiso is found in the Pajial
coinage under Benedict IV (900-i)03), and
John XII (955-964). In the Byzantine
series the Soldo Mancuso occurs under Constant
iiie V and Leo IV (751-775), and it
was copied in Beiieventum by Luitprand,
a contemporary ruler (751-758). All of
the jireceding coins have a hand as a prominent
figure.
The Mancus d'oro was also struck by
Rainiond Berengar IV, Count of Barcelona
(1130-1162) who married Petronilla,
Queen of Aragon. This coin has the inscription
BARKiNOT, implying Barcelona.
See Blaiichet (i. 312).
Finally in the Lucchese coinage the name
JIancoso occurs as early as 1551, and is
used for the half of the Sciido d'Oro.
Mancus. An Anglo-Saxon mone.v of account
mentioned in payments as early as
the ninth century. An annual tribute of
365 IMancuses was made to the Pope for
the maintenance of the English school in
l\ome, the lighting of St. Peter's, etc. This
tril)ute docs not, however, imply 365 coins.
Mancuso. See Mancoso.
Mandat. See Assignat.
Maneh. An early Jewish weight standard,
the value of which is defined in Ezekiel
(xlv. 12). Sec :\nna.
Mangir, or Manghir. A copper coin of
tlie Ottoman Fiiipirc, introduced by ;\Iurad
I (A. II. 761-792). It ranged ajiparently
at first from eiglit to sixteen to the Akcheh,
and eventually became of equal value with
it.
14-2]
Manilla Marchetto
Tho Man>,nir, as it is sonn'timcs called,
filially l)pcaiiie the fourth ])art of the Asper
or the four liuiidrcd and ei]trlitietli of a
Piastre.
It was introduced in Ej^'vpt under Soleiman
I (A. II. !)26-!)74). ' See Fonrobert
(5006).
Manilla, or Manille. A s]iecies of rinp
money, resenililintr a horseshoe, which was
formerly eurrejit in tiie (irand Hassam,
8outliwest Nif,'eria, and other sections on
the West Coast of Africa. Specimens occur
in iron, tin, and copper. tScc Zay (p.
246-247).
Mankush. An Arabic word, the past
jiarticiplc of the verb iidknsli, tn en<j:i'ave.
It is incorrect to say that it means a coin,
altiioufrli it is occasionally found in poetry
a|i|)lied to coins as the "engraved" pieces.
Mannen Tsuho. See Jiu Ni Zene.
Manoel. A later name for the Cruzado
(q.r.).
Manouvrier Note. The name t;iveii to
a rare variety of the five Dollar note of
the Confederate Government, issued at
New Orlean.s, La., in July, 1861. It receives
its name fi-om the cngravci', .lulins
Manouvrier, a Frcnchnian who was in business
in New Orleans until about 1S75.
Mansois. A billon coin struck by Henry
V of Entrland in the An<i:lo-(jallie series
(1415-1422). The reverse inscription,
MONETA nvPLKX, indicates that it was a
variety of the double Tournois.
The name is variously written Manqois,
Manceau. .Alanseau, Monsoys, and in Low
Latin .Mansens. Srr Kudiiig (i. 260).
Mantelet d'Or. Aimtlier name for the
Petit Koyal d'Or, struck by Piiilij) 111 of
France ( 127()-12S5). See Royal <rOr.
Marabotin Alfonsin. The gold Dinar
struck by Alfonso \'lll of Ca.stile in imitation
of the Almoravide Dinars. These
coins have the insci-iptions in Arabic and
the letters ai,f at the bottom.
Marabotins. The contempoi'ary n:unc in
Luroj)!' fur tiic gold coins of tiu' Almoravides,
sti-uck in Spain and Morocco during
the elevcntii and twelfth centuries. See
Maravedi.
Maradoe. According to Kelly (p. 214),
tliis was a foi'mcr Chinese money of account
and com])ulcd al six hnndred Cash.
[14,
Maravedi. This coin corresponded to the
gold Dinar and the Marabotiji, which wa.s
struck in Sjiain l)y the Jloorish dynasty
(if Aimoravidcs ( Kl-.Mnrabitin). The coins
of the Christian rulers of S])ain arc copied
to some extent from their Moorisii predecessors,
and even the names are retained.
The I\Iaravedi a])i)earcd in the reign of
Ferdinand and Isabella and became the
unit of the Spanish co]iper coinage. l\Iultijiles
of two, four, six, and eight Maravedis
were issued, and fre<piently th(^ values
were altered by means of countermarks.
Its nominal value, howevei'. was one thirtyfourth
of a Real. See Iiasse(jna Numisiiiatica
(x. 53-56).
Marc. The French, Sjianisli, and Italian
e(iuivalent foi- tiic .Alark as a wciglit and
a money of account. The Castellano (q.v.)
was based on the fiftieth part of this
weight. In 1093, Philip I of France donated
nine Marcs of silver for the restoration
of a church which had been destroyed
by fii'e.
Marca Argenti. Sec Mark.
Marcello. A silver coin of ^'l'ni('(' which
i-cceives its name from tiie Doge Nicolo
Marcello (1473-1474), wiio inti-odnced it.
It was retained until tlic middle of the
sixteenth century.
Originally its value was ten Soldi, but
later issues were struck of four, six. and
eight Soldi, as well as one of five Soldi for
colonial purposes.
The Marcello bears on the obvci-sc a
figui'c of the standing or crowned Christ,
and on the reverse the kneeling figure of
the Doge, in the act of reccixing a banner
from St. Mark.
The type was co])ied at Mantua as early
as 1529 and was retained unilcr Francesco
1 (ionzaga ( 1540-1 5.")() i. In tiie coinage of
Modena during the sixteenth century the
(i rosso of five Soldi was also co])ied from
the Marcello.
Marchesino. The name given to a variety-
of tiie IJolognino, struck at Ferrara
during the fourteenth century, wiiile tiie
city was under the rule of the IIou.se of
Este, called Marehesi di Fciiara.
Marchetto. A eopjier coin of X'cnice. introduced
by the Doge (liovanni Bembo
(1615-1618), and continued until the latter part of the eighteentli century. There is
a corresponding: mezzo Marchetto.
The name is derived from the tigiire of
St. Mark, which occurs on the coin.
In Ber<iramo at the beginning of the
nineteenth century trading was carried on
in Marchetti, i.e., in Lira of twenty Soldi.
Marchiones. Sec IMarques.
Marengo. The name given to a gokl
coin struck in the mint of Turin after the
battle of Marengo, which occurred on June
14, 1800. It bears the head of Minerva
and on tlie reverse the date l'an 9 or
l'an 10, i.e., 1801 or 1802. The value was
twenty Francs, and it was designed by
Amadeus Lavj-, the mintmaster at Turin.
This coin is also known as the Marenghino.
Margaretengroschen. The name given
to sonic silver coins of the fifteentli century,
struck by Frederick II, Margrave of
Meissen, which bear the letter M in addition
to the ordinary inscription. Authorities
are agreed that this represents Margaret,
the wife of Frederick, to whom were
accoi'dcil ci'i-tain minting privileges.
Margengroschen. Sec Mariengroschen.
Maria. The popular name for a Spanish
silver coin struck by Charles II (1665-
1700). On the reverse was a large letter
M with an A crossing the same and the
value. There is a Maria of four Reales
and another of eight Reales.
Maria Theresa Thaler. See Levant
Dollar.
Mariengroschen, or Gros a la Madone.
A silvei' coin originally issued at Goslar in
150;") with a value of eighty to the Mark,
and consequently inferior to the Bohemian
Groschen, which were computed at sixty
to the Mark. These coins received their
name from the figure of the Virgin and
Cliild on the reverse. In Adam Bei'g's
Nrir Mi'nit:hiirli, 1597, they are called
Margcngi'osclieii, and their value is stated
to be etiual to ten while Pfennigc.
The type was copied in Hanover, Li'unswick-
Liineburg, and many parts of Westphalia.
During the seventeenth century
this coin was legalized at one thirty-sixth
of tiic Thaler, or one twenty-fourth of tlie
(luiden, and numerous multiples and divisions
were struck.
Tlie name was retained long after the
original design was abandoned, e.g., there
exist pieces for Brunswick-Liineburg of
twelve and twenty-four Mariengroschen
with the running horse design.
Marienthaler. This coin, like the Groschen
of the same name, receives its title
from the figure of the Virgin and the Child
on the reverse. They were originally
struck at Hamburg, Goslar, and Hildesheiiii,
were copied in Hungary and were
issued ill Bavaria as late as 1871.
Marigold. An obsolete slang name for
a Guinea, and probably given to the coin
on account of its yellow color, which is a
distinctive feature of the flower. Abraham
Cowlev, in his plav, I'he Cutter of Colemnn
Street, 1663 (ii. 3), says: "I'll . . .
])ut five hundred Marygolds in a Purse."
Marjase. The Hungarian name for the
Austrian seventeen Kreiizer pieces.
Mark, or Marca Argenti. The Mark as
a gold and silver weight is mentioned in
Germany as early as the eleventh century.
In the Nibeiuiiglied, composed between
1180 and 1190, there is mention of zehen
iiuirc. van guide, Richard I of England was
ransomed for ten thousand l\Tarks, and
Shakespeare in The Comedy of Errors (ii.
1 and iii. 1) speaks of "a thousand marks
ill gold." It was extensively employed in
Cologne during the twelfth and thirteenth
centuries, and the Kolnische Mark in 1524
was made the accepted weight standard
throughout Central Europe.
As a money of account it was used for
the ]iayment of large sums where the small
silver coins of different sizes and fineness
were sim])ly weighed. See Usualmark.
The divisions of the Mark were
:
The one fourth, called Vierdung, Viertiiig,
Firdung, or Ferto.
The one sixteenth, called Lot.
The one thirty-second, called Setiii, and
The one sixty-fourth, called Quentin, or
(^)iieiitchen.
These divisions were uniformly recognized,
tlioiigh tlie weight varied in different
lociilities.
Mark. Tiie unit of the currency of Germany,
it was introduced as a silver coin
pursuant to an ordinance of December 4,
1S71, and tlivided into one hundred Pfeunige.
[144]
Mark Massa
There are multiples of two. tliree, and
five Marks in silver, the latter deiiominatioii
heiiijr now abolished. In ijold there
are imilti])les of five, ten, and twenty
]\rarks.
The ten JIark piece was orifjinally ealled
a Krone, and the silver coin of three Marks
I'eplaced the Thaler.
Mark. A silver coin wiiicii appeared
early in tiie sixteenth eentiiry in Seandiuavia,
Livonia, Holstein, Ilarnhnr!?, Liibeck,
Mecklenburg, etc., and which represented
approximately a half Thaler.
In Sweden it was struck as early as 1512
and retained until the bcginninj; of the
eifrhteenth century; In Denmark its value
was sixteen Skillinfr and it was in use to
the reitrn of Frederick VI (1808).
A Mark was issued in Livonia in 1573
for |iaymeiit of the garrison of Pernau.
Mark. Sec Nova Constellatio.
Mark Banco. See Banco.
Markka (plural Markkaa). A silver
coin of Finland, issued in 1865 and .subdivided
into one hundred Pennia. Pinland
has had a gold standard since 1877,
and its coins are based on the system
adopted by the Latin Union. Multiples
exist in gold of ten and twenty Markkaa.
Mark Newby Coppers. See St. Patrick's
Money.
Marmussini. A money of Milan mentioned
as early as 1473, and later regulated
at seven to a Grosso to conform with
the coinage of Savov. See Promis (ii. 34-
35).
Marque. A name given to a class of
billon coins struck by Finance for use in
its colonies. Their dates range from about
1738 to 1744, and they were received at
various values. Thus in Canada they represented
a doidile Sol of twenty-four Deniers
and a Sol of half that value; in the Isles
of France and Rourbon they corresponded
to three Sols; in the Antilles to two Sous
and six Deniers, etc. See Sol and
Tampe, and ranf. Zay (jip. 65-70), and
Wood, in Auxririin Journal of Niimistnat-
/r.9 fxlviii. T_'0-136).
Marque Blanc. The name given to the
billon coin of French (4uiana of the value
of ten Centimes, struck in 1818. As they
contained twenty per cent of silver they
[
presented a whiter appearance than the
Xoirs or older Marques.
Marques. Hugo, Comte de la Marche,
established a mint at HelUic in Till and
struck coins called ]\Iar((ues, or Marchiones,
bearing a figure resembling a half moon.
Srr Blanchet (i. 2S7).
Marti. The |)opular name for the ('nban
gold coin of the value of five Pesos issued
in 1915. It bears on the obverse the head
of Jose Marti, the Cuban patriot, who died
in 1895 at the early age of fort.y-two years.
Martinsgulden. See Albansgulden.
Martinsthaler. See Bettlertlialer.
Marzellen. This term was formerly used
in Germany to designate coins with the
figure of St. Mark. The Diet of Augsburg,
on June 19, 15S9, established their value
at nineteen Kreuzer.
Mas. A gold coin of the former Kingdom
of Atjeh in Sumatra. It can be traced
to tiie latter part of the sixteenth century.
Sir John Davis, in his Travels, 1598, states
that
1600 f'alxas = 1 Miis. or Mine.
400 Ciilxus = 1 K(in|ian.
4 Koupaus = 1 Mas. or Ma<'t'.
4 Mas = 1 rardaw.
4 Tarflaws = 1 Taypll, iir Tail.
Netscher states that he has never seen the
Koupan, Pardaw, or Tayell, and considers
them moiievs of account. Conf. also Millies
(p. 72).
Masaka. A coin of Ceylon which is referred
to in commentaries written as early
as the fifth century. It appears to have
been of both metal and wood, though no
specimens are now in existence. See Rhys
Davids (sec. 13).
Masenetta. A silver coin of Ferrara of
the value of one (irossetto, with the figure
of St. Maurclins on one side and a cornmill
on the reverse.
It was introduced in the fiftecntii century
either by Duke Borso (1450-1471) or
by his succes,sor, Ercole I (1471-1505). P'or
detailed accounts of the origin of the name
and the curious devices, see Rivistn JtaUana
<ll XiiiiilsiiKitira (xviii. 560).
Mashrabi. See Mu.shtari.
Maskat Pice. See Baisa.
Massa. A Latin term denoting a Flan
or Blank {q.v.).
Massa. A popper coin of Ceylon, specimens
of which liave lieen discovered dating
hack to the middle of tlie twelfth century.
It was prohably a later form of the Masaka
iq.v.), and was copied by a long line of the
native rulers.
Massachusetts Cent. This well-known
coin first appeared in 1787 and the corresponding
lialf Cent in the following year.
It was evidently the intention to issue
coins of larger denominations also, as mention
is made in Fleet's Pocket Almanack
for the year 1789 that "a mint is erected
on Boston Neck, for coining of gold, silver,
and copper, of the same weight, alloy, and
value as is fixed by the Resolve of (Congress
of the 8th of August, 1786. Copper only
lias as yet been coined, viz : Cents and Half-
Cents. " See Crosby.
Masse d'Or. A gold coin of France
struck oiilv l)v Philip HI (1270-1285) and
his successor Philip IV (1285-1.314). It
has on one side a figure of the King seated
on a throne and holding in his hand a long
sceptre or mace (Fr. la masse) from which
it receives its name.
Masson. A silver coin of Lorraine and
Bar, wiiicli receives its name from Mons.
Masson, the Director of the Mint in 1728
and 1720. Sec De Saulcy (pi. xxxiii. 1).
Masumma. Sec Mazuma.
Matapem, or Grosso Veneto. The
name given to a variety of the Grosso (q.v.)
wliich was first struck bv Enrico Dandulo,
Doge of Venice, from 1102 to 1205. The
etymology of the word is uncertain, but it
is known that the Venetians took part in
tlie fourth Crusade in the year 1204, the
result of which was the annexation by
Venice of several islands and territories in
tiie Aegean Sea, among them being Morea.
As the Venetians retained jjossession of
this section for some time, and |)ro])alily
establisiied mints there, the name may be
connected with Cape Matapan in i\Iorea.
The Matapan usually has on one side a
figure of the Doge receiving a banner from
St. Mark, the patron saint of Venice, and
on tlie reverse a figure of Clirist seated on
a tlirone.
Tliese coins were extensively struck up
to the beginning of the fiftecrith century,
and were copied by the Balkan States. The
Matapan was succeeded by the Grossetto
(q.v.).
Mathbu, or Metbuo. A gold coin of
Morocco, which appears to have been introduced
about the jieriod of Muley Ismail
ben Scherif (A.H. 1082-1140), and discontinued
in the latter part of the eighteenth
centui-y. Its value was one and a half
Rials or twenty and a quarter Ukkias.
Matica (i)lural Maticaes). A currency
adopted by Portugal for Mozambique. See
Barrinha.
Matier. See Matthiasgrosehen.
Matsuri Sen. A form of the Japanese
E Sen (q.v.), sometimes known as "Festival"
Sen. They are cast in such a way
that several pieces form a group often very
picturesque. They are made to stand upright
or to set in a holder and are used
for shrine offerings or ornaments.
Matthiasgrosehen. A name originally
bestowed on certain varieties of the silver
Groschen of Goslar, struck in 1464. They
bore on the obverse a bust of St. Matthew,
the patron saint of the city, whose body
it was claimed was brought to Goslar by
the Emperor Henry III in the year 1040.
Tliese coins were of the value of six
Pfennige, and they were extensively copied
in Hilde.sheim in 166.3, in Hanover, etc.,
where their value was subject to considei'able
fluctuation.
The terms Matthier, Matier, or Mattier,
are abbreviated names for coins of similar
type struck for Ravensberg by Frederick
William of Brandenburg. They were of
the value of four Pfennige, or one half of
a Mariengroschen, and were used in Brunswick
as late as the nineteenth century.
Maundy Money. This money was first
issued in 1670, to conform to the old custom
of distributing the royal bounty to
cei-tain jioor ]iersons on Maundy or Holy
'I'luirsday. Tlie name seems to be derived
fr-(im tlie maund or bag in which they were
cari-ied. The coins consist of silver Fourpence
or Groats, Tlireepence, Twopence or
lialf Groats, and Pennies; they are not intended
for currency but are, nevertheless,
legal tender.
In I he reign of Victoria a considerable
numl)er of llie Tim-epeiices and half Groats
were exported to .lainaiea and used as currency
there. Sec Wire Money.
[ 146 ]
Maximilian d'Or Megg
Tlic ])ractico of distrilintiiifr coins to tlip
poiJiilace dates from tlio time of the Koniaii
emperors, wliere sueli pieces, ealled Missilia,
were thrown to the jinblie on days of
festivity, dnriiif; the ])erformaiiees at the
circus, etc. In the German series, coins
specially struck for distribution during:
commemorative exercises receive the name
of Auswurf ^fiinzen, i.e., "mone.v to be
thrown out.""
Maximilian d'Or. A <;old coin of Bavaria,
a variety of the Pistole or five Thaler.
The name is jirincipall.v applied to the
issues of Duke Maximiliaii III (1745-1778).
Mayili. A Kanarese word which is supposed
to signify a token. The term Mayili
Kasu followed b.v a numeral, and meaning
"Token Cash," is found on the copper
coins of Ki'ishna Ra.ia Udaiyar, the ruler
of :\Iysore (1799-1868).
Mayon. Sec Salung.
Mazuma, or Masumma. This word is
American Yiddish for money; Yiddish beinir
a patois of Polish, Russian, (Jerman,
and Hebrew, and American Yiddish being
made up of tlie same languages plus English.
Tiie word comes from the Polish-
Yiddish word, Masunnncn, wiiich in turn
is derived from M'Zumon, being literally
"Means of Sustenance." The latter is
from the verli Zoman, i.e., "to feed."
Meaia, or Meaja. An obsolete Spanish
woi-d, iiicMniiig a medal.
Mealha. A billon coin resembling the
Deiiicr, and which apyiears to have been
struck <inl\- during the reign of Alfonso I
of I'orlugal (1128-1185).
Mechelaar. A silver coin of Brabant
struck in 1485 and later. Its value was
one and a half Grooten, and the corresponding
Didjbele Mechelaar was generally
known as the Penning van drie Grooten.
*SV(; Ileylen (p. 64).
Medaglia, Medaille. The corresponding
uanies in Italian and French for a
medid.
Medal. A piece coined for the puri)ose
of coiiniiemoi'ating some historical event, or
as an award for personal merit. It is never
inteiulcd to pass for mone.v.
Various derivations of the word are
given. Scaliger derives it from the Arabic
Mcllutlid, a sort of coin with a head upon
[14'
it. and Vossius states that it comes from
Mddlhnii. metal. The most probable etymology,
however, is from the Italian meda-
(jliii. a term which can be traced to the
fourteenth century, aiul which was applied
to a coin outside of cii-eulatiou, and valuable
only for its historical or artistic featuri's.
.SVr Schauthaler.
Medalet. A small medal.
Medallion. A name generally given to
ver\- large pieces which occur in the Roman
sei'ies, and which were struck by Imperial
authority in gold, silver, and bronze. It
is not detinitel.\- settled whethei- the.v were
used as actual currenc.v oi- intended as
commemoration pieces. tiee Stevenson
{s.v.).
Mediacula. An obsolete Italian term
signifying a medal. Poey d "Avant (iii.
179) cites it from the mint records of the
Alibey of C'luny, and from ordinances of
William, Duke of A(iuitaine, A.D. 1019.
Mediano. This term was used in Milan
to desci'ibe the half Soldo (tf six Danari.
Mediatino. A name given to the double
Dauaro, struck in \^>i'ona from 1259 to
1329.
Medino. A co]i|ier coin of Egypt, the
fortieth part of the Ghrush, the twentieth
of the Yigirmlik, and the fifth of the
Beshlik.
A billon coin of twenty Medins is cited
by Mailliet (Suppl. 23, 5) as having been
struck during the P"'rench occupation of
Cairo, 1798-1801.
Medio. A Spanish word meaning one
half, and not infi-ecpu^ntl.v applied to the
half Real. It was extensively used in
Noi'th America during the colonial period,
and to some extent after the War of the
Revolution. Its value represented six and
a (pmrter Cents.
Medjidie, or Irmilik. A silver coin of
the UKidcrn Tui'kisli series of the value of
eighteen iiud one half Piastres, though
often reckoned at twenty Piastres or eighty
Metalliks.
Megg. A nickname for a Guinea.
Thomas Sliadwell, in his pla.v. The Squire
(if Al.'iiitid, 1688 (i. 1), says: "Meggs are
Guineas, Smelts are half-guineas." See
Decus.
Mehnder-Mulie. Kirkpatrick, in An
Account of the KiiKjdoiii of Nepal, 1811
(pp. 217-218), statos'that in 1793 "the silver
eipht-anna piece, now called Mohr and
Adliecda, was formerly denominated Mehnder-
Mulie, after the Prince who first struck
it (i.e., Mahendra Malla, A.D. 1566), and
by treaty established it in the neighboring
Kingdom of Tibet."
Meke. An obsolete dialect term for a
lialf Penny. See Make.
Mencalis. Du Cange states that this is
the name of a Spanish coin which occurs
in documents written in Latin.
Menellk. The name given to the Talari
issued by ]\Ienelik, King of Abyssinia.
These coins were struck at Paris.
Menudo, frequently called Memit, an
ol)sidi(inal copper coin, struck at Vich
during the French occupation in 1645 ; at
Barcelona in 1643 ; and in Civita Vecchia
fnmi 1642 to 1646. See Mailliet (cxx. 12-
15, Suppl. 11, No. 12), etc.
These appear to have been copied from
a regular type issued by Philip II and
Philiji III of Spain.
Meraner Kreuzer. See Kreuzer.
Mereau. Originally a moneyer's pass or
token, whicli originated in France. At a
later period it was used for the identification
of membei's at council meetings, religions
festivals, etc.
M. Blanciiet, in his Nunmmatique du
Moijrn-dgc ci Morlernc, Paris, 1890, reproduces
on the cover of the Atlas a moneyer's
pass in silver of the mint of Lyons, bearing
on the obverse a crowned bust of Francis
IT. The Paris Cabinet des Medailles
preserves similar mereaux of the mints of
OrenobJe, Cremieu, Ijyons, Avignon, and
Trevoux. That of Avignon, which is the
latest in date, was issued in the name and
has tlie arms of Cardinal de Bourbon
(Charles X), who was at the time Legate
of the Holy See to the Comtat Venaissin.
The work of de Fauris de Saint-Vincens
describes one of these silver passes, bearing
the name of Louis XTI, with the title of
Comte de Provence, which has on reverse
an initial A, evidently indicating the mint
of Aix.
De Courtois Rrvuc NuinlsiiKitlquc, 1848,
(p. 66) illustrates a mereau, of small module,
issued by the moncyers of Tarascon.
[
Merk. A Scottish coin which owes its
origin to the mediaeval Mark, which was
originally a weight, next a money of account,
and lastly a coined piece.
The Merk first appears in the Scottish
series of money, as a coin, in 1591, where
a "Balance Half Merk" of James VI is
mentioned. See Patrick, Records of the
Coinnqe of Scotland (i. introd. and pp.
118, 177, 253, ii. pi. 9). These were followed
by the Thistle Merk (q.v.) of 1601
and later.
The value of the Merk continued to be
two thirds of the Pound (i.e., 13s. 4d.),
but when James VI ascended the English
throne the Scottish money had so deteriorated
that it com]iared to the English as
one to twelve. The Double Merk was also
known as the Thistle Dollar. See Noble.
Messir, or Mishir. A gold coin of the
modern Turkish series of the value of
twenty-five Piastres.
Messthaler. The name given to the silver
coins struck by the Bishops of Sitten,
in Switzerland, on which are usually depicted
a figure of St. Theodolus before an
altar.
Metallik, or Metallique. The name given
to a variety of low grade silver Turkish
coins, which constituted a large part of the
ordinary circidation, chiefly in Asia Minor.
The largest of these Metalliks when composed
of fifty-two parts of silver and fortyeight
of cojiper, is known as the Altilik,
and has a value of five Piastres. When,
however, the same sized coin contains only
twenty-five per cent of silver, it is known
as the Beshlik, and is only equal to two
and one half Piastres. As the smaller
Metalliks are in the same ratio, the greatest
confusion formerly prevailed, which,
however, was remedied in 1911 upon the
introduction of the nickel coinage.
Metbuo. »SVe Mathbu.
Metsqal. See Miscal.
Metzblanken. The name given to the
Breitgrosclu-n of the city of Metz, struck
during the fifteenth century.
Mexican Dollar. Originally this was the
|io]inlar name for the silver coin of eight
Reales which was struck in Mexico and
largely used in the Orient. It is mentioned
in this .sense as early as the beginning of
148]
Me Milled Money
the eifjlitcontli century. Altliouprli the coin
is no longer issued the nanie has survived
to tlie present day and is now applied in
the P"'ar East to the Mexican Peso, which
circulates for the exact amount of silver
that it contains, and consequently has a
flnctuatinj;' value. See Chopped Dollar.
Mezza. An Italian word nieaniiifi; one
half, and applied to coins to indicate the
half of some recognized unit.
Mezzanino. An Italian silver coin of
half the value of the Grosso (q.v.). It was
first issued under the Doge Francesco Dandolo
of Veidce (1326-1339).
A cop]ier Mezzanino was struck at Ragusa
in 1795 and 1796, of the same value
as the Venetian type.
Michaels Gulden and Michaels Pfennige.
The name given to two denominations
struck hy the Ahhots of Beromiinstei- in the
Canton of Luzerne. They obtain their
name from the figure of the arcihangel
Michael slaying a dragon, which occurs on
the reverse of these coins.
Michalati. Certain Byzantine Solidi
struck in the name of the Emperor Michael
bore this designation, which was jjrohably
nidy a pojiidar term.
Michieletta. The name given to a series
of leather ohsidional coins issued for the
cit.v of Tyrus, in 1124. The name is
derived from Dominicus I\Iichieli, Doge of
Venice (1117-1130), who introduced them.
See Leatlier Money.
Mihon Sen, See Shiken Sen.
Mihrabi. A gold coin of Akbar, Emperor
of Ilindu.stan, valued at nine Rupees.
See Hihansah.
Mikron. See Obolos.
Mil. A copper coin of Hong Kong, first
issued in 1863. It has a round hole in the
centre for stringing purposes. The inscriptions
are bi-lingual, English and
Chinese, and its value is one tenth of the
l)ronze Cent. The Chinese call it Tsian.
Milan d'Or. The name given to tlic gold
coin of twenty Dinara issued in Servia bv
Milan T in 1882.
Mildinar. See Hazardinar.
Milesimo. A former eo]iper denomination
of the Philippine Islands; the one
thousandth part of the Spanish Escudo.
[
Miliarensis, or Milliarensis, (!r. MtXtaptj'.
ov, a sihcr coin, iiitroduc^'il by Constantinc
the (ircat, which at first iiad the value
of one fourteenth of a Solidus, ami obtained
its name from being the one thousandtli
part of the i>f)und of gold. It was
coined continuously from Constantine to
.Justinian I. After the latter 's reign the
Miliarensis was raised in weight to ecpial
the one twelfth of the Solidus and the
value changed from one and three (piarter
Sili(|uac to two Siliipiae (q.v.).
Military Guinea. See (luinea.
Milk Penny. S,,' Old Milk Peiniy.
Mill. The consti'uctive unit of the monetary
.s_\stem of the United States. It is
a money of account and e<pial to the one
tenth of the Cent or the one thoii.sandth
jiart of the Dollar.
Millares. The name given to certain
square silver coins struck by the Almohades
in Siiain and Northern Africa during
the twelfth century. The,y ai)i)car to be
the successors of the Miliarenses [q.v.).
The name Millares, however, is more frequently
used for the imitations of these
half Dirhems made by a number of Christian
cities in Spain, Southern France, and
Italy for purposes of trade with the Arabs.
For an exhaustive treatise on the subject
ace Blancard, Le 3Illlares, 1876, and Engel
and Serrure (iii. 456).
Millares. The modern French name for
the ancient ililiarense (q.v.).
Milled Money. A name given to such
coins as were made by the employment of
the mill and screw process which superseded
the hammered coins {q.v.}.
Polkes states that "the maker of this
milled money is reported to have been one
Philip Mastrelle, a Frenchman, who eventually,
however, fell into the practice of
coining counterfeit money, and was convicted,
and executed at Tyburn, on the
27th of January, 1569." Kenj'on states
that the "new process of coining, by
means of the mill and screw, was introduced
into England from France, apparently
by a Frenchman called P^loye Mestrell.
" Hawkins, 07i the other hand, asserts
that "the name of the Frenchman is
unknown and the whole history of the process
and its employment is involved in
singular obsenritv.
"
One thiiijr, however, is certain, and that
is that from 1561 to 1575 milled coins were
made in England, but as they did not win
entire approval, they were discontinued
and not revived until November 5, 1662,
when a warrant was issued for coining b.y
the mill altogether.
Shakespeare alludes to the milled Sixpence
in The Merry Wives of Windsor (i.
1).
For an exhaustive treatise on the early
mintiui!: operations by mill and screw, fter
Mr. W. .1. Hocking's monograph entitled
Siiiion's Dies in the Royal Mint Mnscum,
with Some Notes on the Early History of
Coinage by Machinery, contributed to the
Niiniisniatic Chronicle (4th Series, vol. ix.).
Millieme, also called Ochr-el-guerche. A
nickel coin of modern Egypt of the value
of four Para, or the one tenth of the
Piastre. There are multiples of two and
five Milliemcs in the same metal.
Mill-sail Type. Many Greek coins of the
Archaic period have for their reverse type
a square design composed of six or eight
lines radiating from a common centre to
the corners and sides of the square. The
resulting six or eight triangular com]iartments
arc alternately raised or depressed,
giving somewhat the appearance of a
swastika or mill-sail and from whence is
dcrix'cd the modern name for the design.
Milreis. The money of account for Portugal
and Brazil. One thousand Reis are
called Milreis, and one million Reis is
known as a Conto di Reis.
The word is derived from mille. mil. a
thousand, and real, rey, a King. The Rei
of flannel (1495-1521) was a small copper
coin of low value which was abolished in
the sixteenth century, but multiples were
retained, some of which received specific
luimes. Thus the Tostao was one huudi'cd
Reis; the Cruzado four hundred, the Coroa
five thousand, etc.
A nominal gold standard has been in
use in Poi'tugal since 1854 and the gold
coins consist of five and two Milreis, i.e..
five thousand and two thousand Reis respectively.
In silver the Milreis consi.st
of one thousand Reis, and there are smaller
coins of silver and bronze, the lowest being
a piece of one Real.
Portugal imposed her monetary system
on Brazil but cut the value of the luiit
in two. As a consequence the silver Milreis
of Brazil represent a value of half of
the Portuguese, and the nickel coins of
41)0, 200, and 100 Reis, adopted in 1906,
arc ill till' same pro]iortioii.
Mimigardeford Deniers. The oldest silver
coins of Munster are so called. The
city received this name when founded by
Charlemagne A.D. 803, and retained it
until 1041, when the title Monasterium was
adopted.
Tiiese Deniers have on one side a eluu'ch
with three towers or steejdes, and the inscri]
ition + mimigardeford, or +mimigerne-
EORDE.
Mina, or Manah. An early weight
standard employed by the Babylonians
and (Jreeks, and one sixtieth of the Talent
((/./'.). The Greek Mina was etjual to one
hundred Drachmai, and the Babylonian
and Persian Mina or Manah was divided
into one hundred Sigloi.
Mining-pieces. See Ausbeutemiinzen.
Minnespanning. A term used by Swedish
iiiiiiiisinatists to indicate a token or
medalet issued to commemorate some special
event. The word minne means memory-
, Mint Condition. This term when applied
to coins or medals means that they
are in the highest degree of preservation,
or absolutely bright and perfect as when
issued by the mint.
Mint-Marks. Abbreviations of words on
coins to indicate the place wliere the coin
was struck. Thej' are usually to be found
on the lower part of the coin or in the
exergue, but instances occur where they
are placed above the head on the obverse.
Minuto. The name given to a small billon
ciiin issued in Genoa in the thirteenth
century during Re])ublican rule. It was
in use until about the year 1700, after
which time it was struck in copper. The
latter t.v]ie was copied in Cagliari, Savov,
etc.
Minutulus, or Argenteus Minutulus, allot
licr name for the Ai'gcntcus (r/.c).
Compai'e Lami)ridius, Sec. Ale.r. (xxii.
8). Also see Siliqua.
Miobolo. An obsolete copper coin of
the Ionian Islands. The name is ])robably
a corruption of medio oholos, and is ajiplicd
I.I the half Obolos.
[ I-'IU
Mirliton Mite
Mirliton. Tlu' iiaiiic ^ivt'ii to a variety
of the Louis d'Or struck bj' Louis XV. It
lias on the reverse two interlaeed eursivc
Ls, witli a crown above and a palni-bnuich
on each side.
Mirror Sen. S<i Kajrami Sen.
Miscal. A unit of weight for bullion,
prevalent in all JIuliaiuniadaii I'ouiiti'ies.
It is the ecpiivalent of twenty-four Nakhods
or Peas, aiul the Nakliod is e((uivalent
to four fjandums or grains of wbeat.
Tlie Committee for the Reform of the Currency
in Efr.v|)t exjierieneed great difficulty
in detcrniiniug the exact weight, aiul tinally
decided to set aside tiie unseal and
ado]it the metric system.
Mr. II. L. Kabino contributed an interesting
paper on the coins of the Shahs of
Pei"sia to the Numismatic Chronicle (series
iv. vol. 8) from which the following is
extracted
:
"When the Imperial Bank of Persia
started operations in Persia in 1890, it had
to impoi-t capital in bar silver to be coined
in Tehran. A standard weight had to be
fixed, llaj.ji JIuhammad Ila.ssan, Amin ez-
Zarb, late Mint-master to the Persian Government,
aiul Mr. Rabino, chief manager of
the liank, after a series of experiments
with the Mint and Bank weights, established
the projiortion between miscals and
ounces troy as 250 miscals = 37 ounces
troy, or 1 miscal = 71.04 grains. This has
ever since been recognized as the equivalent
of the miscal for bullion transactions.
"I must add that when the Customs Administration
were preparing the New Commercial
Convention they had no knowledge
of this standard, having at the time no
control over the Mint, and after weighing
the heavy weights iii use in their administration,
they fixed the equivalent of the
batman Tabrizi of 640 miscals as 2.97 kilogrammes.
This equivalent is confirmed, so
to .say, by treaty. On taking charge of
the Mint the Customs found an established
standard weight for bullion, which they
maintained.
"There is eousequeutly now in Persia a
legal weight for bullion, the miscal of 71.04
grains; and a legal weight for merchandise,
the miscal of 71. Gl grains."
The Miscal, also called Metsqal and
Mits(ial, is a silver coin of Morocco, introduced
by Muhammad Abd-Allah ben Is-
[ 151
mad (A. 11. 1171-120.')j. Its value is ten
Uirliems. See Kesme.
In recent years the Chinese have struck
ill Turkestan bi-lingual silver coins of five,
tlire(\ two, and one Misc^als.
Mise. An obsolete term for the double
Albus or Weisspfeiiuig. It originated from
tile fact that this was the amount of the
stake or entrance money for ])layiiig the
game of lotto formerly controll(>d ])y the
Hessian government. Conf. \\w l"'ri'n(li
.V(.sv.
Mise Money. An obsolete payment of
money by way of contract to ])urchase
some particular exemption. Blount, in
Ancient Tenures, 1679 (p. 162) states
that "The tenants shall pay him a certain
sum of money called Mise-money, in consideration
whereof, they claim to be acquit
of all fines and amerciaments, which
are recorded at that time and in Court
Rolls and not levj-ed.
"
Mishir. See Messir.
Misqal, or Misqali. Another name for
the Sanar (</./'.) in the coinage of Afghanistan.
Sec Miscal.
Misri. See Zer-malibub.
Missilia. See Maundy Monej'.
Mistura. A general name for Italian
iiiUou or base silver coins, but more especially
applied to the early issues of Asti,
Cremona, Fauo, the Pajial coins of Avignon,
etc. I
Mitad. This word is found very freipientl.
y on tokens of Latin America, and
designates a half Real.
Mite. The Domcsdaij Book, circa 1086
(i. 268), mentions the term minuta, from
which comes the English w'ord mite.
Riiding (i. 217) saj's, "a mite, in moneyer's
weight is the twentieth part of a
grain, and an indenture of the 17th year
of Edward III mentions un mytisme de
carat c." See Leptoii and Myte.
Mite. The expression "a Mite" is used
mainly to indicate an extremely small unit
of monetary value. lu arithmetical books
of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
it is mentioned as the lowest denomination
of English money of account.
Caxton, in his Dialo(jucs, 1483 (p. 51),
has, "A peiiy, a halfpeuy, A ferdyug, a
myte;" and Jeake, in his Arithmetick, 1696 (p. 77), states that there are sixteen mites
in one Farthing. See Lepton.
Mithqal. A dialectic form of Miscal
(q-v.).
Mitre. J. Simon, in his work on Irish
Coins, 1749 (p. 15), states that "other foreign
coins called Mitres, Lionines, etc.,
from the stamp or figures impressed on
them, were . . . uttered here for pennies,
though not worth half a penny. '
' See Rosary.
Mitsqal. See Miscal.
Mixti nummi. Srr Plated Coins.
Mnaieion ([j.vateitjv). A piece of one
liundrcd Drachms.
The gold Octodraehms (or one hundred
silver Drachms) of Egypt were known by
this name in ancient times.
Mocenigo, also called Lira Mocenigo.
A silver coin of Venice, wliieh receives its
name from the Doge Pietro Mocenigo
(1474-1476), who introduced it. The type
was similar to the Marcella (q.v.) and the
coin was retained until about the middle
of the sixteenth century. Its original value
was ten Soldi.
Moco. A West Indian silver piece cut
from a Spanish Dollar. It corresponded to
the Bit {q.v.), and was extensively used
in the islands of Dominica and Guadehmpe.
See Zay and Chalmers {passim).
The name is probably a corruption of
the French morceau, but Chalmers states
that "Moco seems to be an abbreviation
of the word Maccochino, of which the
forms Maecaroni and MacMpiina were emploj-
ed in Jamaica and Trinidad to denote
cut money."
Module. A word used to indicate the
dianietcf of a coin.
Moeda. See Moidore.
Morchen. See Morchen.
Mogrebi. The name formerly used for
the S|)atiisli Dollar in Arabia. See Noback
(i). 67(t).
Mohar. The name used in Nepal for the
i'a-nying Tang-Ka, or Ang-tuk {q.v.).
Mohur, or moi-e ]iroperly, Muhr. A
gold coin of India, the issues with native
inscriptions dating back to tiie dynasty of
the Moghul emperors in the sixteenth century.
The name is from tlie Arabic, sig-
[, 1.
nifying the impression of a seal. See Sihansah.
The Mohurs of the East India Company
were first struck as patterns in 1765 for
P.ombay, and in 1769 at the Murshidabad
mint for Bengal. The English regal coinage
of Mohurs commenced soon after 1858
when tbe government of India was transferred
to the C'rown.
In 1899 the silver standard of India was
superseded by the gold standard and the
Mohur was replaeecl b.y the Sovereign.
In the former money of account for
Bombay, Madras, etc., the Mohur was computed
as follows
:
1 Mohur — .*i Fananis or Pjinnohea,
= 1.1 Rupcfs.
— Ii40 Annas. — 750 Fuddea, or double Pice. = l.'jOO Pice or Doggane.v (Duganih).
= 1000 Doreas or r)urihs.
= HOlPO Urdoos or Urdilis.
= tiooo Reis.
Sec Noback (p. 137).
Moidore, or more properlj% Moeda,
from moneta, money, a gold coin of Portugal
and Brazil. When originally issued
under Sebastian I (1557-1578) it was
given a value of five hundred Reis, but
this coin was nothing but a one and one
quarter Cruzado. Tlie Moidore proper, of
four thousand Reis, was first struck in the
reign of Pedro II (1683-1706), and discontinued
under John V (1706-1750; some
writers even limiting the period of issue
from the years 1688 to 1732.
It was struck much longer for Brazil,
and was sujierseded hy the gold coin of
four thousand Reis, issued by Pedro I in
1823. See Chalmers (p. 396) and Lisbonino.
Molybdos ((Jr. |j.6Xu^8o?)=Lead {q.v.).
Momme. Ordinarily a Japanese weight,
but in some instances used as indicative of
value. Thus in 1765 ajipeared a rectilinear
silver coin called the Tanuma Go Momme
Gin, or the five Momme Silver of Tanuma
(Munro, p. 195). It was valued at the
twelfth of a gold Ryo. See Kwan.
Mon. A word implying a crest or badge
and ai)plicd to sncli of the early Japanese
Sen as had til is decoration. See Munro
(l)p. 17, 36). Later the name was synonymous
with Rin, i.e., the tenth jiart of
the Sen. The Japanese Tempo {q.v.) was
worth one hundred Mon.
,2]
Monarque Moneyage
111 the Korean eoinapre tlie Mon or Mnn
is the hiindrodth jwrt of the present Nianir
or Yani;. Copper i)ie('o.s of five and ten
Mnn are issued.
Monarque. A Freneh slang expression
for the silver ciiiii of five Pranes, wliieli
formerly hore a lai'tre portrait of tiie reiufniiifr
emperor.
Moneda Provisional. A term used b.\-
Si)aiiisli luanisnuitists when describing obsidioiial
eoins.
Moneta. This surname was bestowed
upon .luMo, of the Capitol. In B.C. 268
tlie Roman mint was established in the
precinets of the temple of Juno Moneta.
At a later jieriod it was used to deiuite
both the plaee of the mint and the minting
art proper, A Denarius struek about B.C.
48 bears tlie head of the goddess Moneta,
with the inscription moneta. On the revei-
se is an anvil, die, hammer, and pincers,
with T(itus)rARisivs.
In the reign of Se|)timins Severus the
three Monetae ai)pear on eoins. They are
represented as holding each a cornucopia
and a balance. Under Diocletian, Alexander
Severus, etc., only a single figure
of Moneta appears on the coins, and is
usually represented in the act of dropping
coins into a mcasiire.
Moneta Abatuda is money clipped or
diminisiied. The term is used in old records
and occurs in I)u Presne, Glossary.
Moneta Argentosa. See Billon.
Moneta di Coppella. The name given
to a Scudo struci< by Pei-dinand II at Florence
in 165(J. It bears on the reverse the
inscription imi'VKITatk rehx'TA, and was of
extremely pure silver. The operation of
refining gold and silver from all alloys is
known as copprllazione.
Moneta Duplex. Srr Doul)le.
Moneta Falsa, or Moneta FalsiBcata.
The Italian equivalent, for counterfeit
coins.
Moneta Farthing. The name given to a
Parthing of David 11 of Scotland (1329-
1371), which is characterized by the following
curious reading: ohv. moneta regis
n. reiK avid scottor.
Moneta Lunga, meaning "light money."
In Plorcnco it was formerly the custom to
comjiute in Tuscan silver, called monctn
hiioiiii. to distinguish it from the moneta
[1
hou/d of Leghorn, whicli was four per cent
less in \alu('.
Moneta Miliarensis. Hee Miliarensis and
Millares.
Moneta Nova. A common ex|)ressioa on
European continental coins, to denote a
new coinage, whicii in many instances was
only made possible by melting the coins
previciusly in use.
Moneta Palatina. A term which occurs
on some of the Merovingian coins of the
seventh century, which were issued by the
authoritv of Eligius, a monevcr to Dagob.
Tt I.
Moneta Papalis. iSVe Paparina.
Moneta Spezzata. The Italian equivalent
for fractional or subsidiary coins. The
term can be traced to the verb spezzare,
i.e., to split, or bi'eak.
Monetarius. A mintmaster, or moneyer.
The term is found on many Anglo-Saxon
coins.
Monetary Unit. A name given to a certain
coin which has been agreed upon as
the liase of a monetary .system. From this
basis are made the multii)les and divisions.
Money. Any material that by agreement
serves as a common medium of excliange
and measure of value in trade.
The olde.st spelling appears to be mone,
and in this form the word occurs in the
Chronicle of R. Brunue, circa 1330. The
Anglo-Saxon laws of Aethelstan, circa 900,
mention the term inynet, in the sense of
money, or payment in general.
Money used as a verb, i.e., to coin or
mint money, is now but rarely used. George
Augustus Sala, in his Diari/ in America,
186r) (iii. 136), says, "The American
double-eagle ... is perhaps the most beautiful
and splendid coin ever moneyed in
aii\- mint."
Moneyage. This term means not only
the right to coin money, but was also formerly
applied to a tax paid to some of
the Norman rulers of England, in consideration
of their refraining from debasing
the coinage.
Carte, Iliatorn of Eiu/hnul, 1747 (i. 482),
says :
'
' Moneyage was a duty of twelve
pence paid every third year in Normandie
to the Duke for not altering the coin."
Hume, History of England, 1762 (i.
App.) has: "Moneyage was also a general
land-tax . . . levied by tlio two first Norman
Kings, and aholisluMl liv tlie charter
of Henry I."
Money Batterer. One who defaces coins,
especially a ])ei'son wlio clips or otherwise
nuitihites tlieni for dishonest pnrposes. In
a rare tract entitled Cocke LorelVa Boke
(11), printed circd 1515, and reprinted by
the Percy Society, occurs the passage:
'
' Players, purse cutters, money baterers,
Golde washers."
Money of Account. The general term
employed to expri'ss a value not represented
by an actual coin, but which is
computed on the basis of a number of
struck pieces, the money of account representing
a i;nit value, in some instances very
minute or insignificant, and in others very
large.
Examples are the Talent of the Ancients,
the Conto of the Portuguese, the
Beutel of the Aluhammadans, the Indian
Lac of Rupees, and the I\lill in the coinage
of the United States.
The German numismatic writers use the
term Kechnungsmiinzen, and the French
say Monnaies de Compte.
Money of Necessity. See Obsidional
("oins.
Monkey. An English slang expression
me.niing the sum of five hundred pounds.
Monnaie, La. The familiar name for
the mint of Paris, ab})reviated from Hotel
de la Monnaie.
Monnaies a la Croix. Tlie general name
foi' coins exhibiting a cross but antedating
the Christian era. Notable examples are
(iaulisli imitations of drachmae, and usually
assigned to the ('adurci, Volkes Tectosages,
etc.
Monnaies Angevines. A term originally
used to distinguish the Deniers struck at
Angers fi'om those of Tours. Later tlie
name Angevin or Angevine was applied to
the donlile (Jros issued in Flanders and th«
Low Countries which was copied from the
French tyjx'. There is an extensive series
struck bv the Bishops of Metz, beginning
witli Thierry V (1363-1384).
Monnaies de Compte. See Money of
Ai-cdunI
.
Monnaies d'Essai. See Essays.
Monnaies de Verre. See Glass Coins.
[
Monnaies Fourrees. See Plated Coins.
Monnaies Muettes. A French term applied
to coins that have no inscription.
See Mute and Anepigrafa.
Monneron Tokens. Tlie name given to
a series of copper medals issued by the
brothers Monneron of Paris in 1791 and
1792, whicli were intended to be used for
the redemiition of the Assignats (q.v.).
The Moiinerons, who were bankers, had a
patent for making these tokens, and they
struck them in denominations of two and
five Sols.
Monsoys. See JIansois.
Mopus. A slang term for a Farthing
or lialf Penny, and also for money in general.
The word can be ti'aced to the beginning
of the eighteenth century. Thackeray,
in Vanitii Fair (vi.), mentions "the
old gaff's mopus box."
Morabitino. A gold coin of Portugal
struck only in the reigns of Sancho I (1185-
1211) and his successor Alfonso II (1211-
1223). The figure of the ruler on horseback
probably served as the prototype of
tlie Rider and similar gold coins adopted
in Europe some time later.
Moraglia. A base silver coin struck b.v
Agostino Tizzone, Count of Dezaiia (1559-
1582). It was of the type of the Sesini of
Modena and bore the inscription moneta
DECiENSis on the obverse, and on the reverse
s. GERMANus, with a figure of the
saint. See Murajola.
Morchen, also called Mbrchen and Miirchen,
were small uniface base silver coins,
and they are mentioned in 1409 and 1425
in the mint regulations of Cologne. They
circulated extensively in the Rhenish provinces,
and their value was the same as the
Heller.
The name, meaning a small moor, was
bestowed on them in derision, as they soon
turneil black on account of the small percentage
of silver they contained. See
Hiisch.
Mordowkis. A name given to imitations
of the Kopecks made by the Mordwas
and the Tai'tars for the purjiose of ornamenting
their dress. See Blanchet (ii.
193).
Morelos Dollars. A name given to certain
Mexican cast silver pieces of eight
Keales. issued from 1811 to 1813 by Gen-
154 ]
Morisca Miinz Recht
eral Jose i\laii;i Morclos of tlio Republican
forces, ill the Province of Oaxaca. There
are corros])oM(linj!; coins of the value of
two, one, and one lialf Reales of the same
desijjn. Tlio word sun on tlie reverse refers
to th(> ai'iiiy of tlie Sontli, of wliicli
111' was till' I'lnnniaiiiliT in I'hirf.
Morisca, or Mourisca. An early coin
of Castili' cui-rciit in I'nrtiifial during tlie
fonrtt'ontli ci'iitiirN'. It was i'i)in|)nt('d at
'.i\'2 Maraliiitini.
Moritzpfennige. Tlic name ffWen to a
sei'ii's III' silviT I'liiiis issued by the Arcbliisli(
i|is of JIafrdt'liury- frnui the twelfth to
tiie fourteenth cenlurics. Tlii'V have on
tlie obverse a tijiure of the |)atroii. Saint
Mauritius, wiio is variously re|)resented as
standing, oi' with the Inist only. Archbishop
Wigmaiin von Seeburg (1152-1102)
struck the largest and most beautiful specimens.
Moriziotti. This term is applied to copper
coins of the value of five Soldi, issued
in Piedmont by Victor Amedeo III in 1704.
Like tlie preceding they bore a figure of
Saint Mauritius.
Morphe (\>.op(fri). The Greek term for
Flan.
Mortuary Pieces. A name given to such
coins ami medals as are struck by one
monarch to commemorate the reign and
acts of his predecessor.
The}' are usually issued very shortly
after tlie demise of the preceding ruler,
and in many instances contain both the
])()rtraits of him and his successor.
The (ierman equivalents are Sterbe
Uenkmiinze, Sterbe Thaler, and Begriibniss
Thaler.
Morveux. The name given to a variety
of the Teston of Ciiarles IX of France,
struck at Orleans by the Huguenots. Below
the laureated liust are the letters A and
(), one within the other. ^Vp Blanchet (i.
161).
Mostoska. Sff Mustofske.
Mother Sen. Srr Ilaiia Sen.
Mouches, 111- Mousches, meaning flies,
was the niekname given to certain varieties
of Liards, or jiicces of three Deniers, issued
in Avignon by Urban VIII ( 1623-1 f)44).
They bore on one side the figures of tliree
bees which were mistaken for flies.
[1
Mourisca. See Morisca.
Mousquetaire. A name given to the
billon coin of thirty Deniers, struck by
Louis XIV in 1710 and 1711 for ('aiiada.
.S',7' Zay (p. 66).
Mouton, or Mouton d'Or. A larger
form of the Agncl {q.v.). It is generally
attrilnited to Edward III of England
during his occupation of France ( 1337-
1:556), but, as the title "King of France"
and the English arms are absent from tliis
piece, a writer in the Niiniisiniitic Chronicle
(1906, p. 274) has suggested that it
should be assigiietl to Edwanl, Duke of
(iueldres.
Moutonneaulx. l)u Cangc (iii. 189)
cites this as a])|)lying to a gold coin mentioned
in an ordinance of 1422. It was
priiliably a variety of the preceding coin.
Mozzi. A class of coins mentioned by
Promis (ii. 12), as being current in Piedmont
in 1335 and of the value of two to a
(! rosso and a half.
Mu Ch'ien. "^Mother coin,"" tlie Ciiinese
word for the coins made from tiie handcut
model, and which are .sent to the various
mints to make the Yang Ch' ien or pattern
coins which are in turn used to make
the regular cast coins for circulation. For
the -lapanese eipiivalents ace Halia Sen
and Taiie Sen.
Miickenpfennig. A co]i]icr coin of
Brunswick-Liineburg, struck in 1696, which
has the figure of a fly on the revei*se. See
Neumann (No. 7466).
Mijckenthaler. See Wespenthaler.
Miinze. A German word, meaning a
coin.
Miinzfund. An expression used by German
iiuiiiismatists in connection with discoveries
of coins, and the eiiuivalcnt of the
Fi-eneh "trouvaille" and the English term
"find."
Miinz Gulden. A gold coin of the Re-
])iiblie of Luzerne, issued from 1794 to
1796. It ajijicars to have been struck only
in multiples of twelve and twenty-four,
and the reverse has the value abbreviated:
Mz.Gu
Miinz Recht. A right to coin money
vested, with more or less reservation, in
many Euroi)eaii rulers, ecclesiastics, provinces,
and cities.
Miinz-Zeichen. Tlie German equivalent
for mint mark.
Miirchen. See Morchen.
Miiter. See Myte.
Muettes. See Monnaies Muettes.
Muggerbee. See Gubber.
Muhr. See I\Iohnr.
Muhr-Ashrafi. See Ashrafi.
Muini. A gold coin of Akbar, Emperor
of lliiuliistan, valued at nine Rupees. See
Sihansah.
Mule. A coin, token, or medal, made
by using two ilies which were not originally
intended for each other.
The term was first generally used in the
latter part of the eighteenth century, and
it mav have been adopted from the "Token
Collectors' Half-penny" of 1796, the reverse
of whicli represents an ass and a
mule saluting each other, with the inscription,
"Be ass>ired, friend nuile, you shall
never want my protection."
The German name for this class of coins
and medals is Zwittermiinzen, and specimens
exist dating from the early part of
the sixteentli century.
Mu-mon Gin Sen. The Japanese word
fur iion-inscril)cd silver 8en which was supposed
to have been made before the regular
Japanese inscribed coinage. Another
name is Kwammon Gin Sen, or "Flower
Badge Silver Sen."
Mun, or Mon. The Korean name for
the Chinese Wen (q.v.). For further note
see Mon.
' Murajola, or Muragliola, a diminutive
of Moraglia (q.v.), a general term for all
coins of dark color probably due to impure
silver. As a coin it was first struck in
Bologna and Piacenza by Paul III in 1534,
of tlie respective values of two and four
Baiocci. It was imitated in Modena in
ir)42, and in Ferrara, Guastalla, and Correggio
siiortly afterward. In 1642 the
mint at Bologna struck the Murajola of a
vahie of one Bolognino.
As a Paj)al coin its value varied consid-
(M-ai)ly. Ch'ment XI issued it equal to
eight liaioeci in 1717 for Bologna and
Ferrara; (Uement XII for sixteen Baiocci;
Benedict XIV in 1747 for four Baiocci;
and Pius VI struck it at various mints
and of numerous values.
[
Mushtari. A name given to the copper
forty Cash piece of Mysore, by Tijui Sultan,
in 1793. This coin had previously
been called Asmani (q.v.), and the change
of name was necessitated owing to Tipu
having given the names of the different
stars to his smaller copper coins.
Marsden (ii. 724) calls it Mashrabi. The
word Mushtari is the Arabic designation
for the planet Jupiter.
Mustofske. A Russian copper coin referred
to by Adam Olearius, in his Travels
of the Anihassadors, etc., 1636 (p. 97), and
of tiie value of one fourtli of a Kopeck.
The term is also found written Mostoska.
Mute. A term applied to a coin when
the same is without any inscription and
can tlierefore only lie identified by the devices
upon it. See Monnaies Muettes, and
Anepigra]ihic Coins.
Mutton Head Cent. The popular name
for one of the Connecticut Cents issued in
1787. It bears one of the largest heads
represented on coins of that State. See
Crosby (p. 215).
Muzuna. A small copper coin of Algiers,
the twentj'-fourth part of the Budschu.
It was discontinued about 1820, but
the half was retained longer.
In the Morocco coinage the copper Centimo
is also known as a Muzuna. The
latest coins have the value so expressed.
See Blancpiillo.
Myddelton Token. A copper half
Penny dated 1796 for the British settlement
in Kentuck}% and made payable by
P. P. P. Myddelton. It was of English
origin.
Mynet. See Money.
Myshemihecte (MuaY)iJ.t£7.T0v), or Ilemiobol
of gold. Specimens were struck at
Cuniae and by Pixodaros, Satrap of Caria.
Myshemitetarte ((j.ua'(5[jLiT£-:apTT)), or the
Tritemorion of gold, equal to one and
a half Drachms or nine Obols of silver.
Specimens were coined at Athens but are
very rare.
Myte, sometimes called Mite and Miite
(plur. Myten, Miiter), and the diminutive
Miiterken. A billon coin of small value
current in Flanders and Brabant as early
as the fourteenth century and copied in
15(1]
Myte Myte
Germany and the Low rouiitries. The
ctymolofiy is probal)ly from the Latin
iiiiniitia, as the name was indiscriminately
ai)plie(l to coins of small value.
In Flanders, Louis de Male (1:346-1384)
prohahly introduced it, and the Brabandsche
Mi it, as it was called, appeared under
Jean IV (1417-1427) and had a value of
one sixth of a Grote. A chronicle of Lemjio
states that "Miiter" wei'e struck at that
place in 1497.
The myte occurs in tlie coinafxe of Arnheni
before 1460; it was issued at Osuabruek
under liishnp Konrad von Kietbern
(14S2-lo().S), and at Lippe it had the value
of a double Pfennifj in the time of Bernhard
VII (1431-1511).
At a later period the name wa.s applied
to billon coins struck at M\inster, and in
1764 it was used to dcsifj-nate pieces of
three Pfenni<;e which had been reduced to
one half of their original value. Sec Mite.