Chapter 250
The currency used for trade in the Mediterranean in this era was gold and silver. The people of Persia mainly used gold coins, while the Greek city-states did not have that many gold mines, so they mainly used silver coins. Since each city-state had the right to mint their own silver coins, the currency market in the entire Mediterranean Sea was quite chaotic. The weight and silver purity of the coins issued by different city-states were not uniform, which brought difficulties to trade. That was why the currency exchange was born.
When it came to exchange, Tritodemus complained in his heart. In the Greek city-states, exchange business was mainly handled by banks. The more prosperous the city-state was, the more developed the banking industry was. However, although there were many banks in the various cities of Diónia, they all belonged to one person — Cristoia, the wife of the Consul Devers of Diónia. Of course, this was not the result of any administrative interference by the Devers. Since its establishment, the Cristoia Bank had adopted an average loan yield that was far lower than the 15% interest rate of the Greek city-states at that time — that is, 5%.
Although the Cristoia Bank broke the tacit rules of the banking industry in the Greek city-states, Amendolara and Turín at that time were in dire straits. No rich merchants came out to stop them. On the contrary, because of its low-interest loans, countless families and small workshops were supported, and they got out of the initial predicament. Thus, the Cristoia Bank gained a reputation. Today's trade in Diónia was not comparable to the past. Some merchants had the idea of opening banks, and they were forced to implement low-interest loans in the Union. However, the Cristoia Bank had made its brand deeply rooted in the hearts of the people of Diónia. People trusted and appreciated it, so there was often a long queue in front of the Cristoia Bank, while there were few customers in other banks. Normal competition was not possible, and it was even more impossible to play other tricks. Don't forget that the Cristoia Bank was backed by the only Consul Devers of Diónia. Therefore, since it was not profitable to open a bank in Diónia, merchants had to invest in other industries. With the expansion of the Union of Diónia, there were more profitable industries, and the competition became fierce, but there was always only one bank.
Tritodemus looked at the man in front of him. At such a young age, he was already the most powerful man in Diónia, and he had a smart and beautiful wife who made a lot of money for him. How enviable!
The Devers did not notice Tritodemus's strange gaze. He focused all his attention on the coins. He picked up two silver coins and looked at them carefully. they were almost the same. He asked with concern, "What do you think about the style and pattern of this Diónia silver coin compared to the Athens silver coin?"
The "owl" of Athens was not only of high silver purity, but also had exquisite patterns. Even after the Diónia of Athens was disbanded and could not to other city-state to use, the Diónia Athens Alliance. The merchants and people of the Diónia to Diónia to exchange for the Lai Coins. in to their own. of Athens Athens De Diónia Coins. and kept. as. Therefore, the Lai Coins of Athens De Diónia Coins were the most widely circulated and used hard currency in the Greek city-states.
"I've repeatedly compared more than a dozen Lai Coins minted in different years with the other members of the Coinage Committee. We all agree that our Diónia coins are not inferior to the Lai Coins in terms of purity and engraving! And … "Tritodemus picked up the silver coin and rubbed the raised ring on the edge. He said excitedly," Consul Devers, your suggestion was wonderful. We did not use the traditional method of making complicated and rough serrations. Instead, we used a simple inlay. Not only did it improve efficiency, but it also did not wear out easily. Everyone thought that it was as heavy and dignified as the pillars of a temple! I believe that once the Diónia coins are released, they will soon be loved by the people! "Tritodemus said excitedly.
The Devers looked calm. The previous design was a suggestion he made based on the characteristics of ancient coins in China. There was nothing to be proud of. He was more concerned about whether the Diónia coins could circulate quickly and become the main currency used by the southern Italian city-states. This was not only to expand the influence of Diónia, but also to dominate the currency distribution rights of Greece and control the economy and trade of the southern city-states.
Just like in Athens, even after the Peloponnesus War, trade shrank, financial difficulties, and the silver ore produced by the Lai Silver Mine did not reduce the purity of the "owl" coins. The people of Athens De Diónia's insistence on the credibility of the city-state's currency was rewarded. Just a few years after the end of the war, there were more and more foreign merchants coming to the port of Erehofs. Now, the trade in Athens was gradually returning to its former prosperity.
"Sir Tritodemus, in the past few months, your Mint Committee has put in a lot of effort for this small silver coin. Thank you for your hard work! I believe that when it is successfully released and the day the people of Greece accept it, your name will be left in the Temple of the Wise! "Hearing the Devers' praise, Tritodemus suddenly became excited. As the Temple of Hades was about to be built, some special architectural structures in the temple were also circulated among the people. For example, there were two side halls in the temple. One was called the Hall of Valhalla, dedicated to the warriors who sacrificed themselves to protect the safety of the Alliance. The other was called the Temple of the Wise, where the names of the citizens who made outstanding contributions to the Alliance would be engraved in the temple for people to worship. It was said that this was the design of the Devers. As a citizen of the Alliance, especially the elders, who did not want to leave their names in history, it was inevitable that Tritodemus could not control his emotions and was overjoyed.
At this moment, a dissatisfied voice sounded, "Since it's all the credit of the Mint Committee, it has nothing to do with our Mathematical Research Institute. Next, if you want to make the 'Medal of Primitive Citizens of Amendorara' … and other things, don't look for us again!" Tritodemus looked back and saw Martikoris. He quickly said to the Devers, "It's all thanks to the Mathematical Research Institute of Martikoris and Mentoticus that we can make such a beautiful coin. If it weren't for their design of the coin mold, and that hydraulic power … hydraulic power …"
"It's the hydraulic press!" Martikoris added impatiently.
Tritodemus coughed awkwardly and said, "It's because they designed these wonderful tools that we can make such beautiful coins! Not to mention that it's better than the coins designed by Pythagoras for Metapontum, it's even comparable to the famous coins of Athens in Greece! "
"It's not all our credit …" Mentoticus, who had always been steady, said humbly, "If it weren't for your design of the waterwheel that inspired us, Master Devers, we wouldn't have thought of using hydraulic power instead of manpower. Unfortunately, the force generated by the water flow of the Colati River is not strong enough to fully drive the large hydraulic hammer that you mentioned last time that can continuously hammer large iron castings."
"Then let's go to the dam," the Devers blurted out.
"Dam?!" Martikoris's eyes lit up.
"We'll talk about this later." Currently, there was construction everywhere in Diónia. There was the resettlement of the immigrants of Asproustum and Crimissa, the construction of the Temple of Hades, the construction of roads, the transformation of the Crimissa Swamp, the construction of the Turií hot springs … There was no more labor to build the more demanding and complex design of the dam. So, the Devers changed the topic and said to Tritodemus, "Martikoris and the others won't compete with you for this credit, because they are destined to become famous mathematicians in the future. There will definitely be statues of them in the Temple of the Sage!"
Faced with such high praise, Martikoris was a little embarrassed. He rubbed his head and laughed. Mentoticus, who was beside him, was more composed, but he could not hide the excitement on his face.
After sending off Tritodemus, only Martikoris and Mentoticus were left in the living room. Now, they were no longer ordinary disciples of the Pythagorean school of thought. As early as last year, because of their achievements in the manufacture of the waterwheel and the free popularization of mathematics among the people, the Devers proposed the Introduction of Foreign Scholars Bill in the Senate. It was passed (together with the Doctors Bill and the Teachers Bill, they were known as the three major bills of Diónia to transform the quality of citizens. As time went on, the cultural center of the Mediterranean gradually moved westward, but this is a story to be told later), making them official citizens of Diónia.
Although the two of them studied mathematics in Tarantum, they were not citizens of Tarantum. Instead, they were from the city of Sicily, Leotini. It was only because they loved mathematics since childhood and admired Pythagoras that they stayed in Tarantum for a long time. Because their homeland was occupied by Syracuse, they actually became homeless. This was the main reason why the Pythagorean school of thought sent them to Amendolar, because they were insignificant to the school. However, in the Diónia Union, their status had changed dramatically. Not only did they have land and a house, but they were also respected. The Devers even privately funded the construction of a mathematics research institute for them. They provided assistants, slaves, and various materials and funds for free, so that they would not be disturbed by the outside world and could devote themselves to theoretical research and practical application of mathematics.
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