The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1 / Page 739 (Color Image)

0739	The Book of Ser Marco Polo : vol.1

CHAP. XXIV. THE KAAN'S PAPER CURRENCY

425

but the Emperor. He has twelve experts chosen for

this business, men of shrewdness and experience in such

affairs ; these appraise the articles, and the Emperor

then pays a liberal price for them in those pieces of

paper. The merchants accept his price readily, for in

the first place they would not get so good an one from

anybody else, and secondly they are paid without any

delay. And with this paper-money they can buy what

they like anywhere over the Empire, whilst it is also

vastly lighter to carry about on their journeys. And it

is a truth that the merchants will several times in the

year bring wares to the amount of 400,000 bezants, and

the Grand Sire pays for all in that paper. So he buys

such a quantity of those precious things every year that

his treasure is endless, whilst all the time the money he

pays away costs him nothing at all. Moreover, several

times in the year proclamation is made through the city

that any one who may have gold or silver or gems or

pearls, by taking them to the Mint shall get a handsome

price for them. And the owners are glad to do this,

because they would find no other purchaser give so large

a price. Thus the quantity they bring in is marvellous,

though these who do not choose to do so may let it

alone. Still, in this way, nearly all the valuables in the

country come into the Kaan's possession.

When any of those pieces of paper are spoilt not

that they are so very flimsy neither the owner carries

them to the Mint, and by paying three per cent. on the

value heets new pieces in exchange. And if any Baron,

g .

or any one else soever, hath need of gold or silver or

gems or pearls, in order to make plate, or girdles, or the

like, heg oes to the Mint and buys as much as he list,

paying in this paper-money.'

Now you have heard the ways and means whereby

the Great Kaan may have, and in fact has, more treasure

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