THE CASANOVA TOUR
by Pablo Günther

( Contents )   Part XVI:
CURRENCIES - Mr Nugent's Rates of Exchange : England  - Netherlands  -  Germany   -  Italy  -  France   -  Casanova's rates of exchange  - Summary  - Literature   .  - "Casanova's Monetary Conditions"   .    (Part XVII: Appendix).
CURRENCIES.
* * *
Mr. Nugent's Rates of Exchange.
    To give a better understanding of the many old currencies and to compare the different prices more easily, I have found it very helpful to change all cost items into a single currency. For this I have used a good traveller's guide containing the rates of exchange:
    "The Grand Tour", Vols I - IV, by Thomas Nugent (1700? Ireland - 1772 London). This work went through three editions, in 1749, 1756 and 1778. As the last two editions appear identical, I have used the rates from the second one published in 1756, as it falls in the middle of the time of Casanova's extensive travels as described in his "History of my Life".
.

   As basic-comparators, the following smaller units come into question:
Penny, Stiver, Kreutzer, Copeck, Baiocco (which I took in the DM-era), Soldo and Sol/Sou.
    Now, in the age of the EURO, I take the English Penny. The Penny can also be regarded as an expression of the purchasing power similar to the Euro in 2002 and in expensive European cities, relating to prices in hotels, restaurants, food, lodging and carriages (cf here the BigMac-method).
l*...
    For some coins, Nugent did not give the rates of exchange; here I took those of Nelkenbrecher (cf. lit.), Casanova, Sharp and J.C. Goethe.
    Costs and incomes are collected by myself.
* * *
    Before I start to reprint Thomas Nugent's (and others'; cf literature) rates of exchange of the different currencies in the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France, I should like to give the conversion of the English money:
ENGLAND.
    Pence (d.)
1 Guinea (gold; 21 shillings) ........................................... 252.00*
1 Pound Sterling (bank note; 20 shillings) ........................ 240.00
1 Crown (5 shillings) ....................................................... 60.00
1 Shilling (12 pence) ........................................................ 12.00
1 Penny ........................................................................... 1.00
[* Casanova points to the equalization in payments of the guinea with the pound sterling (GmL,vol IX, p. 226). In the following lists, I have converted the guinea into 240 d.]
0-------------------------------------------------------------0---------------------------------------------------------0
Wages, Salaries, Incomes:
    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .     .    .    .  Pence (d.)
[Briggs, p. 114 ff.] Monthly incomes (1759-1760):
Superior Clergy, Persons professing the Law, Military Officers, Inn-keepers
    and Ale-sellers: 8.34 Pounds Sterling ............................................. 2,002.00
 Labourers, country: 1.04 Pounds Sterling ............................................ 250.00
 Labourers, London: 1.87 Pounds Sterling ............................................ 449.00
 Common Soldier: 1.17 Pounds Sterling ............................................... 281.00
 (P. 143) Monthly servant's wages (1763):
 Coachman (highest wage): 1.75 Pounds Sterling .................................. 420.00
 Butler: 1.67 Pounds Sterling .............................................................. 401.00
 House Maid (lowest wage): 0.25 Pounds Sterling .................................. 60.00
 (P. 285 f.) Monthly "abundantly sufficient wage of Servants that are not
  Domestic, particularly Clerks in Public Offices (1767)":
  4.17 Pounds Sterling ..................................................................... 1,001.00
Costs:
(Nugent, IV,19) Passage by packet boat Dover - Calais: 1 Gentleman: 1/2 Guinea ..... 120.00
1 additional passenger: 5 shillings ............................................................................. 60.00
 [Casanova, 1763, GmL,IX,204]: ditto, 6 Francs ..................................................... 60.00
(Nugent): Hire of packet boat: 5 Guineas ............................................................. 1,200.00
 [Casanova, GmL,IX,204]: ditto, 6 Guineas ........................................................ 1,440.00
 [Casanova, Naples 1770, Gml,XI,326]: Minimal costs for a Grand Tour  of
  6 months, using stage coaches and passing the nights in hotels, from the
  example of 23 year old Giuseppe Pompeati from London: 100 Guineas ............. 24,000.00
  Per day ......................................................................................... 132.00
 [Casanova, London 1763]:
 Monthly rental for his furnished house in Pall Mall
  including servants, cook, etc.: 87 Guineas ...................................... 20,880.00
 Monthly rental for the house of Miss Charpillon
  in Chelsea: 10 Guineas ................................................................... 2,400.00
 1 parrot: 10 Guineas ....................................................................... 2,400.00
 Theatre ticket: 1 shilling ....................................................................... 12.00
 [James Boswell, London 1763 (Casanova, GmL, vol. I, p. 33)]:
 Expenses for living per year "only": 167 Pounds Sterling ................. 40,080.00
  ditto per month: ............................................................................ 3,340,00
  Broken down by Boswell; here per month:
  a) rental ........................................................ 1,000.00
  b) breakfast and supper ..................................... 540.00
  c) coats, stockings and shoes .......................... 1,200.00
  d) coals, candles, special expenses ..................... 600.00
 [Sophie von La Roche, London 1785]:
 1 fat ox: 20 Pounds Sterling .................... 4,800.00
 1 cow: 7 Pounds Sterling ........................ 1,680.00
 1 pig: 3 Pounds Sterling ............................ 720.00
 1 ram: 2 Pounds Sterling ........................... 480.00
 1 goose: 5 shillings ..................................... 60.00
 1 lb beef: 8 d.   ........................................... 8.00
 1 lb butter: 8 d. ........................................... 8.00
 "1 shilling buys 20 eggs"; 1 egg ..................... 0.60
0----------------------------------------------------------------0--------------------------------------------------------0
.
The GRAND TOUR. By Thomas Nugent.
[I have given Nugent's original text, including the italics. - My notes in the text
are between [ ]. Costs and incomes have been researched by myself.]
Volume The First. NETHERLANDS.
(p. 50 ff.) In travelling through Holland, it is necessary to have some knowledge of their coin, of which there is a great variety; for which reason I have set down in a table the most current Dutch coin, and the value of it in English money.
The coin of England, France, and Germany, pass here for their intrinsic value; a guinea goes for about eleven gilders eleven stivers, and an English crown for fifty-six stivers.
1 gilder [Florin, Gulden] (20 stivers) ...... 21.82
1 stiver [Stüber] .................................... 1.09
Table of Dutch coin.
Gold pieces.
gilders / stivers .................. pound st. / sh. / pence ................... [ d.]
Ryder ................... 14 / 0 .............................. 1 / 5 / 6 ................. 306.00
Half ryder ............... 7 / 0 ................................. 12 / 9 ................. 153.00
Double ducat ......... 10 / 10 ............................... 19 / 1 ................. 229.00
Ducat ..................... 5 / 5 ................................... 9 / 6.5 .............. 114.50
Silver coin.
Three gilder piece ................................................ 5 / 5.5 ................ 65.50
Rix dollar [German?].. 2 / 10 .................................4 / 6.5................. 54.50
Dollar [Daalder] ........ 1 / 10 ................................ 2 / 8.5 ................ 32.50
28 - stiver piece ..................................................  2 / 6 ................... 30.00
6 - stiver pieces .......................................................  6.5 .................. 6.50
5 1/2 - stiver pieces .................................................. 6 ..................... 6.00
2 - stiver pieces ...............................................................................  2.18
1 stiver pieces .................................................................................  1.09
Base metal coin.
1 schilling (which passes for six stivers) .............................................. 6.50
 (...) the bank of Holland or Amsterdam, which is supposed to contain more treasure than all the banks of Europe. It was established in 1609, and is reckoned to have three thousand tuns of gold, each tun 100,000 gilders [6,546,000,000 d.].
0------------------------------------------------------------0------------------------------------------------------------0
Costs:
(Nugent, I, 205) A seat in the post wagon Rotterdam -
Antwerpen with 15 pound luggage free: 9 gild. 9 st. .............. 206.00
 ditto 1 km ........................................................................... 1.90
 each pound luggage more: 1 st. ............................................. 1.10
 [Mead, p. 199] (before 1750:) Best hotel room in Den Haag:
  per day 5 - 6 English shillings: ................................. 60.00 - 72.00
 Dinner in private lodge: 1 English shilling .............................. 12.00
 (1773) very good dinner (7 courses): 15 pence ...................... 15.00
 [Mead, p. 74] (1792:) 1 post horse per English mile
 incl. postillon: 5 pence .......................................................... 5.00
  ditto 1 km .......................................................................... 3.13
0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Volume The Second. GERMANY.
(p. 60 ff.) The German coin in general is neither true sterling, nor due weight, being clipt, it is thought, more than any other coin in Europe. The pieces that ought to be round, are of all shapes.
Augsburg - Southern parts of Germany - Most of the hereditary provinces of the House of Austria - Vienna:
Accounts in florins, creitzers, and fennins.
1 florin [Gulden] (60 creitzer) worth about 2s. 6d. sterling .... 30.000
1 creitzer [ Kreutzer] (8 fennins) ...........................................  0.500
1 fennin [Pfennig] ................................................................  0.062
The monies current are,
I. French lewidores, Spanish pistoles: 7.5 florins ................... 225.00
II. Venetian sequins: 4.25 fl. ............................................... 127.50
III. Imperial ducats and others: 4 fl. ..................................... 120.00
IV. Bavarian ducats: 3.5 fl. ................................................. 105.00
V. Venetian crowns: 2 fl. 18 cr. ............................................ 69.00
VI. S[?] rixdollars: 2 fl. ......................................................... 60.00
VII. Imaginary rixdollars [Reichstaler] of exchange *: 1.5 fl. ... 45.00
VIII. Imaginary florins: 60 creitzers  ...................................... 30.00
IX. Seventeen creitzer pieces ......................................... ........ 8.50
[* In case of doubt, I propose this rate of a German rixdollar / Reichstaler.]
Berlin - Prussia - Leipsic - Saxony - Hanover:
(...) the moneys are expressed by crowns or rixdollars [Reichsthaler], grosses [Groschen], and fennins [Pfennige]. They have two sorts of rixdollars, the old and new;
the old rixdollar (24 grosses): worth about 3s. 6d. ...... 43.20
 1 grosse (12 fennins) ............................................... 1.80
 1 fennin .................................................................  0.15
the new rixdollar * (30 grosses), which is the dollar most generally current
in Germany, worth about 4s. 6d. sterling  ................ 54.00
 1 grosse [Groschen] (12 fennins) .............................. 1.80
 1 fennin [Pfennig] ................................................... 0.15
and is twenty-five per cent better than the old rixdollar.
[* Perhaps the Konventionstaler from 1753 onwards. It is often unclear what "dollar" is meant.]
The current monies are,
I. The old and the new rixdollars ........................ 43.20 / 54.00
II. Two third pieces of the old ones ............................... 28.00
III. One twelfth pieces ................................................... 3.50
IV. One twenty-fourth pieces ......................................... 1.75
V. One half gross piece .................................................. 0.88
Bremen: Rixdollars, mark pieces, shillings, groots, swars.
Breslaw, Silesia: Rixdollars, Imperial or Bohemian grosses, creitzers, dryers, penningen.
At Cologne, the most remarkable money is the rixdollar, which they divide into seventy-eight albus's, each albus contains two creitzers, and each creitzer four hillers; or otherwise they divide their albus into twelve deniers.
Copenhagen; Hamburg: Rixdollars, crowns, marks, shillings, etc.
Dantzic; Konigsburg: Rixdollars, grosses, penningen or deniers; florins or gouldens, brummers; ducats, etc.
Frankfort - Nuremberg:
At Frankfort they keep their accounts either in florins, creitzers, and fennins, or in rixdollars, creitzers and fennins. (...).
Frankfort, being seated almost in the heart of Germany, and surrounded by a great many petty states, is pestered more than any other city of the empire with a variety of species, most of those different sorts of money being current in that city. However, their moneys are of three different sorts, viz. The good fine money in specie; the current money of Frankfort; and the common money of the empire.
The real moneys of Frankfurt, are,
I. The German ducat of gold: 180 creitzers common .............. 90.00
II. The Philip of Spain: 100 cr. com. ..................................... 50.00
III. The rixdollar: 90 cr. com. ............................................... 45.00
IV. The florin [Gulden] : 60 cr. com., worth 2s. 6d. ............. 30.00
V. The batz: 4 cr. com. ........................................................  2.00
VI. The creitzer: 4 deniers, or 8 fennins .................................. 0.50
  1 denier: 2 fennins .............................................................  0.13
  1 fennin  ............................................................................ 0.06
Petersburg - Russia:
1 ruble (10 greavinors) worth 4s. 6d., the same as
    the rixdollar in Hamburg ..................................... 54.00
1 greavinor (10 copecks) .......................................... 5.40
1 copeck (4 poluskis or deniskars) ............................. 0.54
1 poluski or deniskar ...............................................  0.13
Riga - Livonia:
Accounts in rixdollars, goulds, and grosses.
The current monies are,
I. The rixdollar, valued at 15 Riga marks, or three goulds Polish, or sixty vordings, or ninety grosses.
1 rixdollar ................................................  54.00
II. 1 gould Polish ......................................  18.00
III. 1 Riga mark .........................................  3.60
  1 vording .................................................. 0.90
IV. 1 gross (3 white or 6 black shillings) ........ 0.60
V. 1 white shilling .......................................  0.20
Stockholm, Sweden: Rixdollars (worth 4s. 6d.), copper marks; Carolines, etc.
 0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Wages, Salaries, Incomes:
[Conversions by New Rixdollar (54 d.) with 30 Grosses.]
 [Guddat, Cavalry of Frederik II. of Prussia; monthly salaries:]
  Colonel (Kürassiere): 301 Rh. 2 Gr. 8 Pf. ................................. 16,260.00
  Lieutenant (Kürassiere): 24 Rh. 8 Gr. ......................................... 1,310.00
  Rider (Kürassiere, Dragoner, Husaren): 2 Rh. 12 Gr. ...................... 130.00
  Regiment-surgeon (Kür.): 67 Rh. 13 Gr. ..................................... 3,641.00
  Preacher (Kür., Drag.): 15 Rh. ..................................................... 810.00
  Saddler (Kür., Drag.): 7 Rh. 12 Gr. .............................................  400.00
Costs:
(Nugent,II,69) 1 seat in ordinary post-wagon: less than 2d. per engl. mile:
about 1.92 d.; ./. 1.6 km = 1.2 d. / 1 km. Plus 2 Groschen for the postillon
per stage: 3.60 d. ./. 15 km = 0.24 d. Sum per 1 km ................................. 1.44
 [Nicolai, 1769, Berlin, p.478]: ditto: 6 Groschen
  per mile: 10.80 d. ./. 7.5 = per 1 km ...................................................... 1.44
  1 Posthorse per mile: 8 + 1 (postillon) Groschen:
  16.20 d. ./. 7.5 = per 1 km ................................................................... 2.16
 [Nicolai, p.416 ff., Berlin. Rate of 24.3.1766]:
 Food:
[ The Prussian "Big Mac":]
 A portion roast meat at Hase's: 2 Groschen ...................................... 3.60
    ditto at Tiem's: 1 Groschen ............................................................ 1.80
    on average ..................................................................................... 2.70*
 A portion of vegetables and meat in the cook-shop of Hase:
    1 Gr. 6 Pf. ..................................................................................... 2.70*
[* as comparison: highest price of the "Big Mac" in April 2002
    in Germany: ................................................................... EURO 2.70
    in Holland: ..................................................................... EURO 2.60
    in Italy: .......................................................................... EURO 2.50
    in Spain: ........................................................................ EURO 2.60
    in France (Sept. 2002): ................................................... EURO 2.95]
 Dinner in the most expensive restaurant, of Mme Ruffin
  [where Casanova often ate in 1764]: 12 Groschen ......................................... 21.60
  ditto in the cheapest, at Reibekeil's: 4 Gr. ............................................... 7.20
 Hotel-prices:
 "Best hotel of first class 'Stadt Paris'":
   most expensive suite: 2 Reichsthaler ................................................... 108.00
  cheapest room: 10 Groschen ................................................................ 18.00
 All hotels of second class:
 most expensive lodging: 12 Groschen ..................................................... 21.60
  cheapest lodging: 6 Groschen ............................................................... 10.80
 Here fixed highest prices for:
  1 pound fresh good table-butter: 6 Gr. .................................................. 10.80
  1 glass liqueur: 2 Gr. ............................................................................  3.60
  1 glass brandy: 1 Gr. ............................................................................  1.80
 "Rate of the hired [hackney-] coaches or Fiacres":
 "For a ride within the towns of Berlin, Cölln and Werder": 4 Gr. ..............  7.20
 From here in the nearest suburbs: 5 Gr. ................................................... 9.00
 Waiting period: 1. hour: 8 Gr. ............................................................... 14.40
 [as comparison: waiting period in 2002 in Heidelberg per hour:  EURO 18.00]
  2. and further hour: 4 Gr. ..................................................................... 7.20
 Advertisement-price in the "Intelligenzzettel":
 4 printed lines (each up to 14 words): 2 Gr. ............................................. 3.60
 Price of the "Intelligenzzettel": 1 Gr. ....................................................... 1.80
  ditto of the "Voßische Zeitung" [newspaper]: 6 Pfennig ........................... 0.90
 [Nicolai, p.553 ff., Potsdam. Rate of 16.5.1766]:
 Inn - prices:
 Most expensive room: 10 Groschen ............................ 18.00
 Room and bed of the servant: 2 Gr. .............................. 3.60
 Most expensive dinner with 4 dishes: 12 Gr. ................ 21.60
  Extra price for eating in own room: 2 Gr. ..................... 3.60
 Soup with vegetables and meat; supper (bread with
  butter, cold roast meat etc.): 3 Gr. ............................... 5.40
 1 portion of Caffée with milk: 4 Gr. .............................. 7.20
 1 portion of tea: 2 Gr. .................................................  3.60
 1 Bouteille ordinary white French wine: 8 Gr. .............. 14.40
  ditto Rhine-wine: 20 Gr. ........................................... 36.00
 1 Bouteille Champaign: 1 Rthlr. 10 Gr. ....................... 72.00
 6 pound hay, "at present price": 1 Gr. 6 Pf. .................. 2.70
 A night's lodging in the general room on straw
  with eider-downs: 2 Gr. ............................................. 3.60
  ditto, without eider-downs: 1 Gr. ................................ 1.80
 0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Volume The Third. ITALY.
(p. 30 ff.) Every little state and principality in Italy coins its own money, which a traveller ought to have some knowledge of before he goes to that country, otherwise he is exposed to a great deal of trouble and perplexity (...).
Ancona - Ecclesiastic State - Rome:
The current species are,
I. The Spanish Pistole: 31 Julios or Paolos ................................ 186.00
II. The Italian Pistole: 30 Julios ................................................ 180.00
III. The new Sequin: 19 Julios ................................................. 114.00
IV. The old Sequin: 18 Julios ................................................... 108.00
V. The Hongre: 17 Julios ......................................................... 102.00
VI. The Roman or Pope's Crown [Scudo]: 10 Julios .................... 60.00
VII. The Testoon: 3 Julios ........................................................  18.00
VIII. The Julio [= Paolo] (10 Bayocks): about 6d. sterl. .............. 6.00
IX. The Bayock [Baiocco] (5 Quadrins) ....................................... 0.60
X. The Quadrin (3 Deniers) ........................................................ 0.12
  1 denier ..................................................................................  0.04
Bergamo:
1 Lire (20 soldi): 7d. 2/3 sterling ............ 7.67
1 Soldo (12 Deniers) ............................  0.38
1 Denier ..............................................  0.03
The current monies are,
I. the Spanish Pistole: 32 Lires current money ....................... 245.00
or 28 Lires of exchange  .....................................................  215.00
II. The Italian Pistole: 31 Lires 1/2 current money ................. 242.00
or 27 Lires 1/2 of exchange ................................................. 211.20
III. The Sequin: 16 Lires ....................................................  123.00
IV. The Hongre: 15 Lires 1/2  .............................................. 119.00
V. The Crown of Genoa: 11 Lires 6 Soldi ............................... 86.80
VI. Ducatoon: 9 Lires 12 Soldi ............................................... 73.70
VII. The Venetian Ducat: 8 Lires 10 Soldi  .............................. 65.30
VIII. The Philip of Milan: 8 Lires 6 Soldi ................................ 63.70
IX. The Ducat or Crown of exchange: 7 Lires ......................... 53.80
The other small monies are the same as at Venice, which see in the article Venice [sic!].
Bologna:
1 Lire (20 Soldi) .............................................  12.00
1 Soldo or Bolognie (6 Quadrins): ......................  0.60
The Bayock: valued at the same as the Soldo,
    and is the same thing ..................................... 0.60
1 Quadrin ........................................................  0.10
The current species are,
I. The Spanish Pistole: 15 Lires 1/2 ......................................... 186.00
II. The Italian Pistole: 15 Lires ................................................ 180.00
III. The Sequin of Venice: 9 Lires ............................................ 108.00
IV. The Hongre of gold: 8 Lires 10 Soldi .................................. 102.00
V. The Ducatoon of Milan: 5 Lires 2 Soldi ................................  61.20
VI. The silver Crown of Genoa: 6 Lires 4 Soldi .......................... 74.40
VII. The Roman or Pope's Crown [Scudo]: 5 Lires .................... 60.00
VIII. The Spanish Peso or Crown [Piaster]: 4 Lires 5 Soldi ......... 51.00
IX. The Testoon: 1 Lire 10 Soldi .............................................. 18.00
X. The Julio: 20 Quadrins or 3 Soldi 1/3 ...................................... 2.00
Florence - Tuscany - Leghorn - Lucca:
(...) they keep their monies (...) by Crowns or Ducats, Lires, Soldos, and Deniers, reckoning 12 Deniers a Soldo, and 20 Soldi a Lire, and 7 Lires to a Ducat or Crown.
The current monies are,
I. The Florence Pistole: 20 Lires or 30 Julios ......................... 180.00
II. The Ducat, Crown, or Pezzo: 7 Lires ................................. 63.00
III. The Spanish Pezzo: 5 Lires 15 Soldi ................................. 52.00
IV. The Crown of gold or exchange: 7 Lire 10 Soldi ................ 67.50
V. The Testoon: 2 lires or 3 Julios ........................................ 18.00
VI. The Julio of 8 grains at 40 Quadrins ................................... 5.40
VII. The Lira at 20 Soldi or 1 Julio 1/2 ..................................... 9.00
VIII. The Quilo at 13 Soldi, 14 Deniers, which is in the same proportion [sic] the part of a Lire, as a mark of 13 shillings and 4 pence is of a pound sterling.
IX. The Grace [grain] worth 1 Soldo 1/2 or 5 Quadrins ............. 0.675
N.B. Twelve Graces make 20 Soldi. An imaginary Soldo is 4 Quadrins. A black Quadrin is 1 Double. The Graces and black Quadrins are of a base coarse metal, and are mostly given to shopkeepers in payment for goods bought of them.
     1 Soldo .........  0.450
     1 Quadrin ......  0.135
Genoa:
(Lires, Soldi, Deniers.) The current monies are,
I. The Venetian Pistole: 18 Lires 16 Soldi ................................................ 187.00
II. The Crown Mark of gold, or 1/2 Venetian Pistole: 9 Lires 8 Soldi ........... 94.00
III. The Croisade: 7 Lires 12 Soldi ............................................................ 76.00
IV. The Pezzo, or piece of 8/5 [?]: 5 Lires ................................................. 50.00
V. The Roman Testoon: 1 Lire 16 Soldi .................................................... 18.00
VI. The Lira or Lire: 20 Soldi ................................................................... 10.00
VII. The Soldo: 12 Deniers .......................................................................  0.50
Messina, Palermo:
Ounces, Tarins, Grains, Pichioli; Carlins, etc.
Milan:
(Lires, Soldi, Deniers.) The current monies are,
I. The Spanish Pistole: 19 to 21 Lires ...................... 140.00 / 154.00
II. The Italian Pistole: 22 1/2 to 23 Lires ............................... 167.00
III. The Ducatoon of Milan and Savoy:  8 Lires,
    or 6 Lires 15 Soldi ................................................  59.00 / 49.60
IV. The Philip Spanish, or Ducat: 6 Lires ................................ 44.00
V. The Crown, or Scudi-Moneta: 5 Lires 17 Soldi ................... 43.00
VI. The Lira, or Lire: 20 Soldi * ............................................. 7.34
VII. The Soldo: 12 Denarii, or Deniers ..................................... 0.37
[* Conversion according to Casanova, GmL, vol. VIII, p. 174: 15 Lire = 1 (Venetian) Sequin.]
Naples:
(...) accounts in Ducats, Tarins, and Grains, reckoning 5 Tarins to a Ducat, and 20 Grains to a Tarin; but their common reckoning is by Carlins, as in Holland by Gilders, or in Great Britain by Pounds sterling. The current monies are,
I. The Spanish Pistole: worth 33 Carlins ............ 148.50
II. The Italian Pistole: 30 Carlins ....................... 135.00
III. The Sequin: 18 Carlins ................................  81.00
IV. The Gold Ducat: 12 Carlins .......................... 54.00
V. The Gold Crown: 13 Carlins .......................... 58.50
VI. The current Ducat: 10 Carlins ....................... 45.00
VII. The current Crown: 11 Carlins .................... 49.50
VIII. The Spanish Pezzo: 9 Carlins ..................... 40.50
IX. The Tarin: 2 Carlins .....................................  9.00
X. The Carlin: 10 Grains [worth 4 1/2 d.]* ......... 4.50
XI. The Grain: 3 Quadrins ..................................  0.45
  1 Quadrin ........................................................  0.15
[* Conversion based on information by:
1.) Samuel Sharp (1765; p. 22): "The carline (four pence halfpenny) is worth ten grains. The grain (not quite a halfpenny) consists of twelve calli (cavalli [0.0375 d.]), and the least piece of coin is three of these calli [0.1125 d.], with which the poor can purchase a small bit of cheese, chesnuts, apples, and other fruits, on which they seem to subsist, almost as much as on bread".
2.) Johann Caspar Goethe (1740; p. 154): "Here I have to explain the real value of the money: 26 1/2 Carlini make one [venetian] Sequin, and one Testone 4 Carlini (...). The whole cheating [14 Carlini] costed us about two German Florins". The three specifications are leading to these conversions: 1 Carline = 4.16 d., 4.5 d., and 4.28 d.]
Turin - Savoy - Piedmont:
(...) they keep their accounts in Lires, Soldi, and Quadrins. (...) In buying and selling they agree by imaginary Florins of 12 Soldi, worth 6 Sous of France [3 d.]. - However, Nelkenbrecher (1769) gives a rate of 7.2 pence:
Their current monies are,
I. The Madonine or Pistole of Savoy: 13 Lires .............. 65.00....156.0
II. The Ducatoon: 7 Florins or 84 Soldi ........................ 21.00......50.4
III. The crown of Savoy: 3 Lires ................................. 15.00......36.0
IV. The Lira: worth 20 Soldi ......................................... 5.00......12.0
V. The imaginary Florins: worth 12 Soldi ....................... 3.00........7.2
VI. The Soldo: worth 4 Quadrins, Deniers, or Liards ....... 0.25........0.6
  1 Quadrin, Denier, or Liard ......................................... 0.06.......0,15
Venice:
At Venice, and in most parts of that republic's dominions, they keep their accounts in Lires, Soldi, and Pichioli, reckoning 12 Pichioli to 1 Soldo, and 20 Soldi to 1 Lira. But the bank reckons by Ducats and Grosses, reckoning 24 Grosses to the Ducat.
The current monies are,
I. The Pistole of Venice, Florence, Spain, and Louis d'ors:
  worth 29 Lires ..................................................................................  187.000
II. Another sort of Pistole, valued sometimes at more than 30 Lires .......... 193.000
III. The Pistole of Italy, Genoa, Turin, Milan, Parma,
  Mantua, Modena, and Geneva: 28 Lires ............................................... 180.000
IV. The Sequin [zecchino] : 17 Lires .................................................. ~ 110.000
V. The Ducat of gold or Hungarian Ducat: 16 Lires ................................. 103.000
VI. The Ducatoon: 8 Lires 1/2 ................................................................. 55.000
VII. The silver Crown: 9 Lires 12 Soldi .................................................... 62.000
VIII. The silver Ducat: 6 Lires 4 Soldi [worth 3s. 4d.*] ........................... 40.000
IX. The Crusade of Genoa, called Genoins: worth 11 Lires 10 Soldi,
  and sometimes 11 Lires 15 Soldi ........................................................... 74.500
X. The Philip of Milan: 8 Lires 10 Soldi ................................................... 55.000
XI. The Testoon: 2 Lires 14 Soldi ........................................................... 17.400
XII. The Julio or 1/3 Testoon: 18 Soldi ...................................................... 5.800
XIII. The Lira: 20 Soldi ........................................................................... 6.440
XIV. The Soldo: 12 Pichioli ...................................................................... 0.322
XV. The Gross: 32 Pichioli  ...................................................................... 0.859
 1 Pichioli ...............................................................................................  0.027
[* Conversion again according to Sharp (1765; p. 117 f.). Casanova (1772; GmL, vol. XII, p. 213 f.) mentions the same rate: 1 silver Ducat = 4 French Francs = 40 d.]
They have two sorts of money at Venice, one called current money, and the other bank money; the latter is better than the former according to a decree of the senate, by 20 per cent. which is the established Agio. The imaginary ducat of bank is worth 6 Lires 4 Soldi bank money, or 7 Lires 8 Soldi 4/5 current money. And the gross is worth 5 Soldi 1/6 bank money. The monies of Pichioli is what is commonly bargained for in buying of goods and merchandize, reckoning the money by Lires, Soldi etc. which they commonly reduce into Ducats current of 6 Lires 4 Soldi, by multiplying by 20 to bring them into Soldi, and, by dividing the product by 124 Soldi, brings them into Ducats current.
0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Wages, Salaries, Incomes:
 [Casanova:]
 (Venice, 1741) Monthly wage for soldiers of the Army: 300 Soldi ...................... 97.00
 (Rome, 1744) "Cheap" visit to a prostitute: 1/4 Sequin ...................................... 27.00
 Casanova's (initial-) salary as secretary at the Embassy
  (food and lodging free): 20 Scudi ............................................................... 1,200.00
 (Venice, 1746) Wage per day for violinist in theatre orchestra
  ("good earnings"): 1 Scudo ............................................................................. 60.00
 Yearly income of the Chief of the Army Staff:
  3,000 Scudi; per month: 250 Scudi ........................................................... 15,000.00
 Casanova's monthly income from his Venetian friend Matteo G. Bragadin:
  1) Venice, 1746: (food, lodging, servant, gondola free) 10 Sequins ................ 1,100.00
  2) Paris, 1750: 100 small Écus ................................................................... 3,000.00
 (Rome, 1760) Incomes per year of the Abate Momolo (family 8 persons;
  "perceptible poverty"): 200 Scudi; per month: .............................................. 1,000.00
 (Bologna, 1772) "Monthly, modest expenditure, sufficient for
  2 private rooms, food, 1 servant": 10 Sequins .............................................. 1,100.00
 [Smollett, Rome 1764:]
 Daily wage for coachman: 2 Paoli; per month: ................................................. 360.00
 Daily wage for hired servant: 3 Paoli; per month: ............................................. 540.00
 Costs:
(Nugent, III, 41 f.) Hire of a coach and a pair of horses
per month in Rome: 10 or 12 Pistoles; 11 Pistoles .......................... 1,980.00
 ditto 1 day ...................................................................................... 66.00
 [Nemeitz, (1726), p. 438 ff.]: 2 horses per stage
  (Ecclesiastical State, Parma, Milan): 8.18 Paoli ................................. 49.10
  1 horse per 1 km: ............................................................................. 1.92
 [Mead, p.180. About 1740.]: 2 horses per Venetian stage:
  8 French Livres ............................................................................... 80.0
  1 horse per 1 km: ............................................................................ 3.36
 [Smollett (1764, in Rome): 1 pound veal: 2 Paoli .............................. 12.00
     Exchange rate: 32 Paoli (192 d.) = 16 Engl. Shilling (192 d.).
 (Tuscany:) Cambiatura: 2 horses, per stage: 10 Paoli; ./. 12 km =
  per 1 km ........................................................................................ 5.00
 1 posthorse per stage: 3 Paoli; 1 km ................................................... 1.50
 (Piedmont:) Cambiatura: 5.5 Livres; 1 km .......................................... 4.60
 [Casanova:]
 (Corfu, 1741) 1 rifle: 10 Sequins ................................................. 1,100.00
 (Cesena, 1749) 1 theatre ticket: 1/2 Sequin ....................................... 55.00
 (Treviso, 1756) 1 breakfast: 30 Soldi ................................................. 9.66
0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Volume The Fourth.FRANCE.
(p. 16 f.) The current coins of France are as follows:
 4 liards worth 1/2 Penny English ......... 0.50
1. One - Liard - piece: ............................................................ 0.125
2. Two - Liards - piece: 1 farthing English ............................. 0.250
3. One - Sol or Sou - piece (4 liards): ...................................... 0.500
  (Two pieces of the same value; the one is of copper,
  and the other of mixt metal.)
4. One - Sol 1/2 - pieces (various sorts): 3 farth. ...................... 0.750
5. Two - Sols - piece (mixt metal) ........................................... 1.000
6. Six - Sols - piece (lowest silver coin): 3d. ............................. 3.000
7. Twelve - Sols - piece: 6d. ................................................... 6.000
8. Twenty-four - Sols - piece: worth about 1 sh. .................... 12.000
9. Three - Livres - piece [petit écu]: Half crown English ....... 30.000
  N.B. A livre is an imaginary coin, containing
  20 sols, or ten-pence English. 1 Livre [/ Franc] .................. 10.000
10. Six - Livres - piece (largest French silver coin [grand écu]):
  like our crown, and of the same value .................................. 60.000
11. Half - Louis d'Or - gold piece (12 Livres):
  equal to about half a guinea* ........................................... 120.000
12. One - Louis d'Or - gold piece (24 Livres):
 equal to about a guinea English money  ............................ 240.000
[* Here valued like the Pound Sterling.]
You are to observe, that no coin of a former reign will pass in this king's time; for they call in all their coins upon the demise of their kings. Their accounts are kept in livres, sols, and deniers; twelve deniers make a sol.
 0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Wages, Salaries, Incomes:
 [Casanova:]
 (Paris, 1750) Wage per day for a servant: 30 Sous. Month: .................................... 450.00
 Casanova's monthly income from his Venetian friend Matteo G. Bragadin:
  100 Petits Écus .............................................................................................. 3,000.00
 [Smollett, 1763:] Income per year of the Prince of Monaco:
  1 million Livres, "something more than 40,000 Pd.St." .............................. 10,000,000.00
 Costs:
(Nugent, IV,113 f.) 1 seat in the coche Paris - Versailles: 25 Sols ............................. 12.50
     ./. 20 km = per 1 km .......................................................................................... 0.60
(IV,166) 1 seat in the stage-coach Lyons - Paris ["Diligence de Lyon"]: 75 Livres ..... 750.00
     ./. 460 km = per 1 km .......................................................................................  1.63
 [Liste Générale des Postes de France, 1781]:
     1 horse per stage: 25 Sols; ./. 9 km = per 1 km ..................................................... 1.39
 [Smollett, (1763), vol.I, p.287]: Purchase of a travelling
    carriage in Calais or Paris: 30 or 40 Guineas; 35 g. = ....................................... 8,400.00
 [Martyn, (before 1770), p.63 f.]:
 Hire of a town carriage per month in Paris: 12 Guineas ....................................... 2,880.00
      per day ........................................................................................................... 96.00
 Wage for the taylor (suit): 18 shillings ..................................................................  216.00
  ditto, very good suit: 30 shillings .......................................................................... 360.00
 Silk-suit with 2 breeches (final price): 9 Guineas .................................................. 2,160.00
 Black velvet-suit with 2 breeches (final price): 16 Guineas .................................... 3,840.00
 [Casanova, (1763), GmL,IX,167]: Dinner in the "Hotel du Parc",
    Lyon: "only" 30 Sous ......................................................................................... 15.00
 (GmL,IX,170) Basic fee for hired carriage Lyon - Paris: 144 Francs ..................... 1,440.00
      ./. 450 km = per 1 km ........................................................................................ 3.20
 (GmL,V,281; Paris, 1759) 1 long trousers [new fashion]: 4 Louis d'Or .................... 960.00
 (Gml,IX,152) Lace-cuff with shirt: 50 Louis d'or ............................................... 12,000.00
 (GmL,V,282) Fiacre (Taxi) in Paris: 24 Sous ........................................................... 12.00
 0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Casanova's rates of exchange in the "History of my Life"
(Ed. Laffont, vol./chap./p.)
(3/III/499) "6 livres de Parme = 30 sous de France"; 1 Lira of Parma = 2,50 English Pence (d.).
(5/VII/132) "1000 livres sterling = 11000 guilder"; 1 Dutch Gulden/Florin = 21,82 d. (Nugent: 21,82 d.)
(6/I/229) "100 ducates = 500 guilder"; 1 Dutch Dukat = 109,10 d. (Nugent: 114,50 d.)
(6/X/427) "1 pistole de Piémont = 1,6 louis d'or"; = 384 d.
    (7/XII/668) "1 pistole de Piémont = 2,5 sequins"; if venitian zecchin: = 275 d.
    (8/VI/822) "1 pistole de Piémont = plus que [more than] 2,5 sequins"
(7/II/486) "1 doblon da ocho [Spain] = plus que 3 louis"; = more than 720 d. (Nelkenbrecher: 880,00 d.)
    (8/VII/831) Milan: "1 quadruple [= doblon da ocho] = 7 [venitian] sequins"; = 770 d.
(7/IX/616) "1 sequin de Rome = 2 scudo de Rome"; 1 Roman zecchin = 120 d. (Nugent: 108 d.)
(8/VI/824) "1 livre de Milan = 1/15 [venitian?] sequin "; 1 Lira of Milan = 7,33 d. (Nugent: 7,34 d.)
(9/V/95) "1 ducat de Venise = 1 grand écu (de France)"; = 60 d. (Nugent: 1 "ducatoon" = 55 d.)
(9/VII/125) Value of gold of the Engl. Guinea = 1 Louis d'or + 17 Sous; = 248,5 d.
(9/IX/199) Portugal: "1 [engl.] livre sterling = 10000 reis"; 1 Reis = 0,024 d. (Nelkenbrecher: 0,0625 d.)
(10/IV/372) Mitau: "1 Albertstaler = 1/2 Dutch ducate"; = 57 d.
(10/V/388) "1 rouble = plus que 1/3 sequin"; 1 Russian Rubel = more than 37 d. (Nugent: 54 d.)
(10/XII/584; 11/V/695) Spain: "1 peso duro [à 10 reales] = 100 sous de France"; = 50 d.
    (11/I/589) "1 peso duro = 1/2 sequin"; = 55 d. (Nelkenbrecher: 55 d.)
(12/IX/1020) Venice: "1 ducat d'argent = 4 # (francs?) monnaie de France"; 1 silverdukat = 40 d. (Nugent: 40 d.)
 0--------------------------------------------------------------0----------------------------------------------------------0
Summary
(In German; decimal point = ,)
..           .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .    .Pence
England:
1 Guinea (21 Shillings)............................................... 252,00
1 Pound Sterling (20 Shillings) ..................................  240,00
1 Crown (5 Shillings)....................................................60,00
1 Shilling (12 Pence) ................................................... 12,00
1 Penny ...................................................................... 1,00

France:
1 Louis d'or (24 Livres oder Francs) .......................... 240,00
1 Grand Écu (6 Livres)..................................................60,00
1 Petit Écu (3 Livres)....................................................30,00
1 Livre / Franc (20 Sols / Sous) .................................... 10,00
1 Sol / Sou (4 Liards) .................................................... 0,50
1 Liard (3 Deniers)............ ............................................ 0,125
1 Denier.........................................................................0,042

Netherlands:
1 Ruyder (280 Stüber)..................................................305,00
1 Dukaten (105 Stüber)................................................114,50
1 Gulden/Florin (20 Stüber) .......................................... 21,82
1 Stüber ....................................................................... 1,09

Germany:
    South (Augsburg, Vienna, Parts of Switzerland):
1 Reichsdukaten (4 Gulden)..........................................120,00
1 Gulden (60 Kreutzer) ................................................ 30,00
1 Batzen (4 Kreutzer)..................................................... 2,00
1 Kreutzer (4 Pfennige) ................................................. 0,50
1 Pfennig (2 Heller)........................................................ 0,125
1 Heller..........................................................................0,062
    North (Berlin):
1 Friedrichs d'or (5-Taler-Stück), about .......................................... 220,00
1 Old Reichstaler (24 Groschen) "courant", about ............................. 42,00
1 Imagined Reichstaler of exchange (24 Groschen) "banco", about ...... 45,00
1 "new" Reichstaler à 30 Groschen ................................................54,00
1 Groschen (12 Pfennige), ............................................................... 1,80
1 Pfennig ........................................................................................ 0,15

Russia, Baltic States:
1 Albertstaler .............................................................  57,00
1 Rubel (10 Grieven) ................................................... 54,00
1 Grieven (10 Kopeken) ................................................. 5,4
1 Kopeke ..................................................................... 0,54

Venice:
1 Zechine / Sequin (17 Lire), about ............................. 110,00
1 Silbertaler (9 Lire 12 Soldi).........................................62,00
1 Silberdukaten: ............ Bank: 48 d. ...........Kurant: .....40,00
1 Lira (20 Soldi) .......................................................... 6,44
1 Soldo (12 Pichioli) .................................................... 0,322
1 Pichiolo ................................................................... 0,027

Turin, Savoye, Piemont (after Nelkenbrecher):
1 Pistole von Piemont (Casanova: 1,6 Louis d'Or)............384,00
1 Pistole von Savoyen (13 Lire)......................................156,00
1 Dukaten (7 Gulden) .....................................................50,40
1 Krone von Savoyen (3 Lire) ..........................................36,00
1 Lire von Piemont (20 Soldi) ..........................................12,00
1 Bank-Gulden (12 Soldi) ..................................................7,20
1 Soldo ............................................................................0,60

Rome:
1 Zechine (18 Julii oder Paoli) ..................................... 108,00
1 Scudo (10 Julii) ......................................................... 60,00
1 Julio / Paolo (10 Baiocchi) ........................................... 6,00
1 Baiocco (15 Dinare)..................................................... 0,60
1 Dinar ......................................................................... 0,04

Naples:
1 Silber-Unze (Casanova: 30 Karlinen) .........................135,00
1 Zechine (18 Karlinen) ............................................... 81,00
1 Golddukaten (10 Karlinen) .........................................45,00
1 Karline (10 Gran) ....................................................... 4,50
1 Gran ......................................................................... 0,45

Spain:
1 Doblon de 8 Escudos (160 Reales) ....................... 880,00
1 Doblon de 2 Escudos / Pistole ...............................220,00
1 Escudo de oro (20 Reales) ....................................110,00
1 Peso duro (10 reales) ..............................................55,00
1 Philippe d'argent .....................................................55,00
1 Peso de 8 (Reales) / Piaster .....................................44,00
1 Peseta (2 Reales) ....................................................11,00
1 Real (34 Maravedis) .................................................5,50
1 Maravedi ................................................................ 0,16

Portugal:
1 Lisbonine (3 Escudos) .......................................... 300,00
1 Escudo (1600 Reis) .............................................. 100,00
1 Reis (Real) .............................................................. 0,0625

Literature
Briggs, Asa: How They Lived. Vol. 3: An anthology of original documents written between 1700 and 1815. Oxford 1969.
Casanova, Giacomo: [GmL] Geschichte meines Lebens. Hg. u. eingeleitet von Erich Loos. Erstmals nach der Urfassung ins Deutsche übersetzt von Heinz von Sauter. 4 vols. Frankfurt: Zweitausendeins, 1964.
Engel, Franz: Tabellen alter Münzen, Maße und Gewichte. Rintelen 1965.
Gerhard, Hans-Jürgen (Hg.): Löhne im vor- und frühindustriellen Deutschland. Göttinger Beiträge zur Wirtschafts- und Sozialgeschichte, Bd.7. Göttingen 1984.
Goethe, Johann Caspar: Reise durch Italien im Jahre 1740. München 1986.
Guddat, Martin: Kürassiere, Dragoner, Husaren. Die Kavallerie Friedrichs des Großen. Herford; Bonn: Mittler, 1989.
Kahnt, Helmut / Knorr, Bernd: Alte Maße, Münzen und Gewichte. Lexikon. Mannheim 1987.
Martyn, T.: The Gentleman's Guide in His Tour through Italy. London 1770.
Mead, William Edward: The Grand Tour in the Eighteenth Century. Boston 1914 & New York 1972.
Nelkenbrecher, Johann Christian: Taschenbuch eines Banquiers und Kaufmanns. Berlin 1769. Reprint Verlag Dr. Müller, Düsseldorf 2004.
Nemeitz, Joachim Christoph: Nachlese besonderer Nachrichten von Italien. Leipzig 1726.
Nicolai, Friedrich: (Ankünfte u. Abfahrten der Posten; Post-Taxen etc.: Kapitel 11 in:) Beschreibung der Königlichen Residenzstädte Berlin und Potsdam. Berlin 1769.
Nugent, Thomas: The Grand Tour; Or, A Journey through the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and France. 4 vols, London 1749, 1756 & 1778.
Sharp, Samuel: Letters from Italy, (...), In the Years 1765, and 1766, To which is annexed, An Admonition to Gentlemen who pass the Alps, in their Tour through Italy. London 1767.
Smollett, Tobias: Reise durch Frankreich und Italien. [1763]. Leipzig 1767.
"Casanova's Monetary Conditions.
A list of his income and expenses as far as they are specified in his Memoirs"
(5-5-2009)
    So are titled forty-five pages by an unknown author, published in Vol. XIII of the edition by Heinrich Conrad, "Giacomo Casanova. Erinnerungen", Munich and Leipzig, 1909.
    In the "History of My Life", Casanova presents his readers with 471 monetary items in 27 currencies from 10 states. They are indicative of the prices of many kinds of goods and services, or refer to salaries and other income, or to his gambling.

    What can all this financial data tell us? To find out, I first of all converted the currencies into a single one, the English Penny (d.), so that we can make comparisons (the Penny can also be regarded as an expression of the purchasing power similar to the Euro of today, relating to prices in hotels, restaurants, food, lodging and carriages). Then we can group income from own work or gifts, and expenditure under certain headings, e.g. gambling winnings, expenses for ladies, as well as in chronological classifications.

    Here is the rounded up result of this attempt for the 34 years between 1741 (first monetary specification) and 1774 (last year in the memoirs):

               Total Balance (in English Pence):

                Income ................................... 6,600,000

                Expenditure ............................. 3,100,000
                Turnover in gambling ............... 7,000,000
                Winnings ................................. 4,000,000
                Losses ..................................... 3,000,000
    It seems quite natural that Casanova mentioned more details of his income than his expenditure; while the balance of his GAMBLING is rather well. Here, playing Pharao, Biribi, Quinze, etc, the turnover is enormous: 570 d. per day! Six times he broke the bank, taking home up to 300,000 d. When holding the bank himself, or taking part, he could mostly achieve considerable winnings by taking measures which are usually called "corriger la fortune". The winnings varied between 600 d. and 540,000 d., and the losses between 2,400 d. and again 540,000 d.

 

    Casanova's INCOME of 6.6 million Pence implies:

on average, a monthly income of more than 16 thousand Pence!
    As a comparison I can quote the monthly salaries of:
15,000 d. (250 Scudi): Chief of the Venetian Army Staff;
13,500 d. (300 Reichstaler): Colonel in the Cavalry of Frederic the Great;
1,200 d. (20 Scudi): Secretary at the Spanish Embassy in Rome 1744 (Casanova, food and lodging free);
1,000 d. (16.7 Scudi): Abate Momolo, Casanova's friend in Rome (family 8 persons, "perceptible poverty");
540 d. (90 Paoli): Hired servant in Rome 1764;
450 d. (1.87 Pounds Sterling): Labouror in London 1760.
    For more details of Casanova's income, I would like to remind you of the following 5.5 million Pence (instead of the mentioned 6.6 million) obtained in different situations.
    Apart from his childhood, his life until 1774 can be divided into three periods, each clearly defined by his income status:

I. 1741 - 1745 Early Years of Travelling (5 years, age 16 - 20):

            Total income: ........................................................ 150,700
            Monthly average: ....................................................... 2,512
II. 1746 - 1767 Time of the Bragadin Pension (22 years, age 21 - 42):
            Total income: ...................................................... 4,911,860
            Monthly average: ......................................................18,605
III. 1768 - 1774 Seeking His Return to Venice (7 years, age 43 - 49):
            Total income: ......................................................... 407,200
            Monthly average: ....................................................... 4,848
    Now from where did Casanova draw his income? The answer is rather amazing:
        1.) Income from his own work: ...................... 612,160 d.
        2.) Income from gifts: ................................. 4,857,600 d.
                                                                Total: 5,469,760 d.
- and shows him to be a real master at the art of living: He had only to work for 11.2 % of his income! - In detail:
    1.) Income from his own work (612,160 d.):

    I. First Period

1741 Venice: Collection received from preaching: 50 Sequins .................................. 5,500
1744 Rome: Salary as Secretary of Embassy: 20 Scudi/month, 3 months ................. 3,600
1745 Venice: On leaving the Navy: 100 Sequins ................................................... 11,000
                                                                                                                Total: 20,100
    II. Second Period
1746 Venice: Wage as a violinist: 1 Scudo/day; for 60 days: ................................... 3,600
1757 Paris: From De Bernis for state services: 100 Louis d'or .............................. 24,000
1758 Paris: As Receiver of the Lottery: 8,000 French Francs ................................ 80,000
    From the sale of 5 Lottery offices: 10,000 FF ................................................ 100,000
    From De Bernis for state services: 600 Louis d'or .......................................... 144,000
1758 The Haag: From Boas for Exchange transactions: 3,000 Gilders .................... 65,460
    From Mme d'Urfé commission of: 12,000 FF ................................................... 120,000
1764 Mitau: From the Duke de Biron for mine report: 400 Albertstaler ................. 22,800
                                                                                                             Total: 559,860
    III. Third Period
1771 Bologna: Fees for a book (Lana Caprina): 100 Sequins ................................ 11,000
1773 Trieste: For the Memorandum on Postal Route: 2 x 400 FF ........................... 8,000
1774: Monthly income from Venetian State: 10 Sequins; one year ........................ 13,200
                                                                                                              Total: 32,200
    2.) Income from gifts (4,857,600 d.):
    Casanova's nine main benefactors provided him with the following larger amounts:
    I. First period
1744 Rome: The Cardinal and Spanish Ambassador Acquaviva gives him on leaving:
                                                                                700 Roman Sequins ............ 75,600
1745 Corfu: He sells goods received from Jussuf in Constantinople, for:
                                                                                500 Sequins ........................ 55,000
                                                                                                                Total: 130,600
    II. Second period
1746 - 1767 From the Venetian patrician Matteo G Bragadin he receives a pension: at first 10 Sequins per month until presumably 1756; then 100 small Écus until at least 1759; finally, I calculated again for the last 7 years, 10 Sequins.
A cautious estimate would be:............................................................................ 330,000
1750 Geneva: The French countess Henriette makes him a farewell present of:
                                1,500 Louis d'or ............................................................... 360,000
1759 Amsterdam: He helps the merchant Mr d'O, by speculating successfully, to earn
a profit of 1 million Gilders; Casanova receives a 10% share:............................. 2,182,000
    Mr d'O's daughter Esther, on saying goodbye, contributes a further
        2,000 Pounds Sterling: ............................................................................. 480,000
1762 Munich & Lyons: His cabbalistic scholar, the Marquise Jeanne d'Urfé,
        supports him with 2 x 50,000 FF: ........................................................... 1,000,000
                                                                                                            Total: 4,352,000
    III. Third period
1770 Naples: The lawyer Aniello Orcivolo gives back the value of jewels which
Casanova once gave to his wife Agata: 15,000 FF .................................................150,000
1770 Naples: Leonilda's husband, the Marquese della C., returns the gift Casanova
made to his wife: 5,000 Gold-Ducats ....................................................................225,000
                                                                                                                Total: 375,000
    Concerning the EXPENDITURE, I might put down some interesting items.
    1.) For Living:
Casanova in Bologna, 1772 ("modest monthly expenditure, sufficient for two private rooms, food, and a servant"): 10 Sequins or 1,100 d. (for comparison: James Boswell in London 1763, per year "only" 167 Pounds Sterling; per month: 3,340 d.).
    2.) Purchase of carriages (all second hand):
English Coupé ("voiture anglaise"), Cesena 1749: 200 Roman Sequin, or 21,600 d.
English Coupé, Geneva 1762: 100 Louis d'or, or 24,000 d., plus the coach bought in Aachen; half a year later, Morosini got it for 1,000 small Ècus, or 30,000 d.
Chaise de Poste ("Solitaire", one-seater), Lyons 1763: 40 Louis d'or, or 9,600 d.
Coupé, bought in Salerno 1770, sold in Bologna 1772 for: 300 Roman Scudi, or 18,000 d.
    3) Some different costs:
Rifle, Corfu 1741: 10 Sequins, or 1,100 d.
Theatre ticket, Cesena 1749: 1/2 Sequin, or 55 d.
Breakfast, Treviso 1756: 30 Soldi, or 9.66 d.
Dinner in the "Hotel du Parc", Lyons 1763: "only" 30 Sous, or 15 d.
Dinner at Berlin's most expensive restaurant, of Mme Ruffin, 1764: 12 Grosses, or 21.6 d.
Long trousers (new fashion), Paris 1759: 4 Louis d'or, or 960 d.
Lace-cuff with shirt, Lyons 1763: 50 Louis d'or, or 12,000 d.
Fiacre, within the city of Paris, 1759: 24 Sous, or 12 d.
    4.) For Ladies:
Greek girl .......................... 3,000         Zenobia ............................. 6,600
Teresa ............................. 10,800         Irene ............................... 18,600
Christina ........................... 6,000         Annina .............................. 3,000
O'Morphi .......................... 3,000         Marcolina ...................... 120,000
Mme Dubois .................... 24,000         Adele ................................ 3,600
MM II. ............................ 12,000         Charpillon ...................... 507,000
Mlle Roman ..................... 36,000         Hannoverian sisters .......... 21,000
Daughters of janitor ........... 7,200          Stenau's mistress .............. 12,000
Rosalie ............................. 21,600         Zaira ................................. 9,600
Anna and Veronica ............ 27,000         Farmer's girl ...................... 9,000
Corticelli .......................... 30,600          Maton ............................... 2,400
Mariuccia ......................... 28,800         Castelbajac ......................... 9,600
Leonilda (returned) .......... 225,000         Callimene ......................... 24,000
Strasburgian lady ............... 24,000         Emilia ................................ 1,200
Raton ................................. 6,000
                                                                                    Total: 1,212,600 d.
    Thus the monthly cash expenses for women on average amounted to 3 thousand Pence! In fact, Casanova spent much more than that on them; one only has to think of the twenty seamstresses in his factory in Paris, who were provided, one after the other, not only with money, but also with lodgings, furniture, jewels...

 
 

Continuation: Bibliography, Index of Persons (part XVII )
Copyright by Pablo Günther, Hergensweiler 2002, 2009.
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