A Discourse Upon Coins by Bernardo Davanzati

A Discourse Upon Coins

is an abstract look at the nature of currency in the world, and how these concepts are applied to daily life, visionary dreams, and hope for the population starving for coins. Naturally, coins are symbolic in this capacity. Monetary value is ideal, where people align these coins with hope and dreams. They can make purchases with the coins and gain new items of value. They feel whole and have a sense of worth when they are able to buy things, hoard them, collect them, and hope to obtain more in the future. Coins symbolize the freedom of expression that one has, where one with limited financial worth has nothing, by comparison.

In exploring the value of the coins and wider currency, Davazati uses Gold and Silver as symbolic elements of success. There is perfection in these metals, as if they are inherited from the creator of the earth. The metals are invaluable, yet hold specific value at the same time. This is a paradox that will be explored throughout the reading, where the author outlines measures of support for the self during uncertain times.

“The Sun and Internal Heat do Separate, as it were by Distillation, the best juices and Substances in the Bowels of the Earth; which being percolated into proper Veins and Mines, and there congeal’d, grown solid, and ripen’d, they are in time made Metals: whereof the most rare and perfect are Gold and Silver, resembling the two great Luminaries of the World in Splendor and Colour” (Davanzati).

There is much to take from this meaningful quote which sets the standard for the rest of the argument. One does not know if the author is acting with an informative approach or trying to be persuasive. Davanzati brings almost a mythical approach to the Gold and Silver coins, which are the highlight of the monetary system. They hold value beyond their worth, and are

representative of something that has been inherited by humanity. Beyond this, one is trying to make sense of why the author has so much pleasure in discussing coins. The monetary system, of course, is the divide among people in the global environment and the reason behind competition.

Herbert Giersch examines a different perspective in how money leads to competition in the global environment. “The abstraction from the knowledge problem is also shown when considering the role that is played by money, both in welfare economics and in competitive solutions” (Giersch 273). Again, there is an abstract development where the reader must make sense of this perception and how it fits the ideology of realism. First, Giersch is introducing what he defines as the knowledge problem. The role that is played by money is obvious, as one with a realistic outlook on the environment understands how money divides people. Yet, Giersch is trying to bring competitive value in as a meaningful exercise, one where there is achievement and a sense of worth, beyond the common idea of saving, spending, and using money to gain power.

Welfare economics is a concept that is connected with the reading, where Giersch also speaks out on this issue. Welfare economics is a means of providing those who do not have money with some form of capital so they may develop in their life, however that may be. Without monetary value, one has little interest in pursuing goals and setting new standards for the self, which is a concept that is shared among the authors discussed. Davanzati almost presents a dark side of money, where capital is only a driving force behind competition. There is precious value given to the gold and silver coins; beyond this, one must question what purpose they actually have. The world can exist without money and competition and the pursuit of power that almost all inherit. Davanzati is looking for a meaningful escape from the torture that money brings, where the value is lost when one is not looking at a vision, but observing the money itself as a determining factor in how well one has developed.

Davanzati examines the interpersonal qualities in the mortal body. These characteristics are more important than gold and silver, which have been given extra consideration only when society shifts its focus to what is considered valuable. “Our Mortal Body being design’d a Habitation for the Divine and Immortal Soul, was fram’d, as became the Servant of so great a Lady, of a most noble, delicate, and tender Constitution” (Davanzati). The author is looking at the development of humanity, which is beyond material items. Anyone can acquire gold and silver and use them to acquire material objects. This is not the focus of the theory, where it should be more aligned with the immortal elements of human nature. The capacity for growth is not determined by the possessions one has, but the individual self and the makeup of the human body, mind, and spirit.

The value of the human mind and body far extends anything that can be gained through materialism and currency. Much of the discussion is going to highlight gold and silver as a currency needed to support the self. The direction of life is dynamic, and does not hold limitations. Instead, one is able to expand a reflection to the self and evaluate how well one can compensate for having limitations with respect to things, or material items that hold no value in terms of morality and the capacity to be connected with others. “Thus far we have discours’d of the Time, Place, Invention, Authors, Names, and Advantages of Money” (Davanzati). The value of the self cannot be limited in its scope, as all are appreciated for who they are, not what they have. This is an integral theme outlined by the author, wanting people to look inward and better-appreciate their place in a real world capacity.

Thomas Ferguson introduces what is known as a Golden Rule with respect to money and financing. This topic may have no direct link to what Davanzati is discussing on the surface. Yet,

there is a meaningful relationship as the Golden Rule is one that shapes human factors, human behavior, and the nature of competition as it has brought a new element to humanity where this monetary device is the focus. This goes beyond the logic that the author has presented. There should be no need, according to Davanzati, to force competition for something that has so much value.

“Now, Gold and Silver contribute very little in their own nature to our Lives, for which all Earthly Things seem to have been created” (Davanzati). This is a profound statement and one that carries much value as we continue to explore the capacity for growth in this environment. Human factors and trends are driven by the concept of money. There is a competition to gain something and hold onto it, and not share. In expressing Gold and Silver as something that contributes nothing, Davanzati shows this paradox, and it is one worthy of further exploration.

By the author’s own account, a paradox exists with these creations. All things have been inherited by mankind, and all are crucial in exploring a dimensional capacity. At the beginning stages of the writing, the author finds credibility in Gold and Silver. They are mythical objects and symbolic of hope and development moving forward. Now, there is a shift, where he feels they contribute nothing to actual humanity, and are separate from nature. All things in nature are inherited, and are created with the intent of enhancing human thought and action. Yet, Gold and Silver are separate from the equation; they do not hold their value in the natural world. Again, this is observed as a paradox where there is disconnect between what is found to be encouraging by the author in the initial stages of the writing, and what is explored beyond this scope.

In looking at the worldview of money, one certainly finds that there is a paradox, beyond what is being explored by Davanzati. His lack of consistency in how he promotes the precious metals is based on human change and ideology. On the one hand, these precious metals are

needed to bring on a sense of security and value for the human. Alternative to that, they are meaningless because man does not know how to take something that has pure value and share it, or spread it equally. Instead, this leads to competition and abuse, where the external literature coincides with Davanzati’s feelings on the issue. The topic is almost one of madness as we look at this from a comprehensive approach, where there is initial value in the precious metals which become burdened by the role of humanity. The metals are actually de-valued because of the way in which humans handle them, without respect for their true valor.

Gold and Silver are symbolic throughout the reading, and hold a close relationship with how humanity is expected to develop moving forward. “We may therefore call ‘em the second Causes of a happy life, seeing that by their means we enjoy all those Benefits which render it so.” Achieving success demands knowing one’s environment, making use of the materials inherited, and respecting nature. Humans have not done this, which is a downfall of humanity. Precious metals are just one example, where Ferguson and Giersch look at the elements of competition and how they have pitted man-against-man in a society where sharing has so many more positive implications. Beyond the scope of communication, or the lack therefore, an abuse of power exists. Money is the culprit, where the value of these metals (Gold and Silver) is only determined by what one makes of them, how they are used, and their long-term value.

Exploration of the self is an internal lens. Davanzati is calling on people to look past the monetary value of the item and find a new means of exploring how one can use these items, whether inherited or earned, to re-appropriate social roles. Philosophy works outside of money and the material objects that man holds so precious. Yes, there are critical benefits that are explored when one has these metals. One feels a sense of power and worth, capable of using these material objects to hold a place and social order. All the while, one abusing the system and not giving value to the internal traits is going to fail to understand how these are contributing to

human development. Davanzati has a problem with the way man views money, how he makes use of money, and how there is value lost in creation and the natural resources. Philosophy has long-analyzed these themes, and found that human competition and greed tend to take precedent over the real value one should put into humanity.

Davanzati does not have a clear vision because of the nature of human behavior. The shift in how humans view money, how they collect and invest, and what their actual purpose is when it comes to money is distorted. There is this fascinating development that the author notes in the beginning stages of the writing, one where money in the form of gold and silver is almost inherited by God as a worldly creation. As the author continues to explore themes of humanity and the factors within, we see there is a shift where humanity does not provide the truth value to materials. Instead, man takes them for granted and imposes competition on the self as a means of being combative. Money is lost in this process, not because of the value it has, but because humans are showing greed and abuse of power at a heightened rate.

Works Cited

Ferguson, Thomas. Golden Rule: The Investment Theory of Party Competition and the Logic of

Money-Driven Political System. University of Chicago Press, 1995.

Giersch, Herbert. Money, Trade, and Competition: Essays in Memory of Egon Sohmen. New

York: Springer, 2012.