in the Archives at Lubeck cited in Handelmann's _Die
letzten Zeiten der hanseatischen Uebermacht im Norden_, pp. 165-170. The
matter is ably discussed by Forssell in his _Sver. inre hist._, vol. i.
pp. 134-138. Much confusion is caused by the fact that the debtor and
creditor reckoned the sum each according to his own monetary standard,
and there can be no question, too, that between the parties there was
some dispute as to the exact sum due.

[75] See a document in the Archives at Lubeck cited in Handelmann's _Die
letzten Zeiten der hanseatischen Uebermacht im Norden_, p. 165.

[76] [Illustration]

Svart, _Gust. I.'s kroen._, pp. 64-65. Svart, whose chronicle was written
with a view to flatter Gustavus, informs us of the reduction in the
value at which the coin was issued, and appears to attribute this
reduction to the generosity of his master. It was "a good fat coin," he
adds, which merchants carried out of the country as an excellent piece
of merchandise. The zeal with which the chronicler defends the coin is
enough to raise suspicion as to its true value. If it was really worth
an oere and a half, it is incredible that Gustavus in the strait in which
he then was should have ultimately given it for an oere. Forssell, in his
_Anteckn. om mynt, vigt, matt och varupris i Sverige_, pp. 44-51,
suggests that probably the coin was first issued for an oere and a half,
and then with the same size and weight but containing more alloy, was
issued for an oere. I think the true explanation is more simple. Gustavus
had been found out. The "klippings" which he had issued a year before
were such a palpable fraud that the Danish commandant of Stockholm had
actually forbidden their use, lest the Danish "klippings" (which were
about as bad as anything could be) might through association with the
others fall into ill repute. _Christ. II.'s arkiv_, vol. i. pp. 214 and
218. So that when he issued a new coin and called it an oere and a half,
people were suspicious and refused to take it till he reduced it to
something like its value. This view is strengthened by the fact that of
the few extant coins of Gustavus, dated 1522, not one contains enough
silver to have been worth an oere and a half, and most of them fall
considerably below the value of an oere. It is noticeable also that those
stamped 1523, which were presumably issued for an oere, contain a trifle
more in value than those stamped 1522, and called an oere and a half. As
none