# ancient or mythical currencies question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345 "2012-11-17T20:32:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/1 "2012-11-17T20:32:13Z")
Q: Was there ever an old unit of any country’s currency that you have ever heard of called the “Sue”? (or possibly pronounced “sue”? I know, all I need is Johnny Cash singing “a currency named Sue”). It would have been a very low or small denomination of currency, like that country’s penny… ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/2 "2012-11-17T20:36:14Z")
> [@](#): > > In the French language, which evolved directly from common or vulgar Latin over the centuries, solidus mutated to soldus, then solt, then sol and finally sou. > **[Solidus (coin)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidus_%28coin%29)** > > The solidus (Latin 'solid'; pl.: solidi) or nomisma (Greek: νόμισμα, romanized: nómisma, lit. 'coin') was a highly pure gold coin issued in the Later Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire. It was introduced in the early 4th century, replacing the aureus, and its weight of about 4.45 grams remained relatively constant for seven centuries. > In the Byzantine Empire, the solidus or nomisma remained a highly pure gold coin until the 11th century, when several Byzantine emperors began to strike the coin wi... ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/3 "2012-11-17T20:36:33Z")
Coming right up > **[Solidus (coin) | France](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidus_%28coin%29#France)** > > In the French language, which evolved directly from common or vulgar Latin over the centuries, solidus changed to soldus, then solt, then sol and finally sou. No gold solidi were minted after the Carolingians adopted the silver standard; thenceforward the solidus or sol was a paper accounting unit equivalent to one-twentieth of a pound (librum or livre) of silver and divided into 12 denarii or deniers. The monetary unit disappeared with decimalisation and introduction of the franc during the F To... ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/4 "2012-11-17T20:37:36Z")
Sou. A French coin. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/5 "2012-11-17T21:58:36Z")
… also used in spoken/informal French in Québec: 1 sou = a penny, 10 sous = a dime, 30 sous = a quarter (long story). Note that, in French, the final S of a plural noun is silent. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/6 "2012-11-18T03:28:57Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > all I need is Johnny Cash singing “a currency named Sue” No, no, no - “A coin named Sue”! ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/7 "2012-11-18T15:08:40Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > … also used in spoken/informal French in Québec: 1 sou = a penny, 10 sous = a dime, 30 sous = a quarter (long story). You have my attention… ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/8 "2012-11-18T19:26:22Z")
This coin is mentioned as being used in Switzerland in _Heidi’s Children_, by Charles Tritten. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/9 "2012-11-18T19:41:32Z")
“So poor, he didn’t have a sou” could be considered proper English, I think, ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/10 "2012-11-18T20:33:01Z")
Just to follow her hometown crew, Every sou, Katie blew. – from the never-sung introductory verse to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/11 "2012-11-18T20:34:23Z")
Thank You! I Thought it was a French coin. It came up in conversation with someone who said they spoke perfect French and that there was no such sounding denomination of currency in all of Europe, let alone France. I did some general searches (with the wrong spelling) and I searched French currency, but all I had found was the history of the Franc. I did find mention of the Solidi entry, but as soon as I saw it dated back to Roman an Byzantine times, I figured it could not have been related. If only I had read the entire article, it specifically mentions to use of “Sou” as slang, answering the question. :smack: It may also be relevant for a different reason. Could the person I was speaking with be teasing me for using an informal slang term which is not considered “proper French”? Nah. Couldn’t be. 😉 > [@SCAdian](#): > > No, no, no - “A coin named Sue”! Well Done, Sir! " …And if I ever have a currency to name, I’m sure I’ll call it…Mil…Baht…or Any damn thing but Sou!!!" ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/12 "2012-11-18T20:47:26Z")
I only knew because I used to do a lot of crossword puzzles and it’s a common clue. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/13 "2012-11-18T22:34:04Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I only knew because I used to do a lot of crossword puzzles and it’s a common clue. Same here. I wonder how many others that got this are also crossword puzzle folk. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2012, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/14 "2012-11-18T22:59:54Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > I only knew because I used to do a lot of crossword puzzles and it’s a common clue. > [@ftg](#): > > Same here. I wonder how many others that got this are also crossword puzzle folk. I knew it immediately as my profession is world coins since 1970. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/15 "2012-11-19T02:38:48Z")
Haven’t the faintest idea where/when I first read it - several decades ago, when I was a teenager, most likely. Master of the house, keeper of the zoo, Ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two… ---
**Author:** ![listedmia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@listedmia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/listedmia)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/16 "2012-11-19T08:51:24Z")
Related question: I was reading _The Count of Monte Christo_, I think, and they talked about someone in prison hiding something inside “a big sou”. What would that be and how is it different from a regular sou? ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/17 "2012-11-19T09:30:41Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > “So poor, he didn’t have a sou” could be considered proper English, I think, I’m pretty sure it’s a recognised colloquial expression, yeah. I remember it being referenced in an episode of _Alias Smith and Jones,_ back in the 70s. One of them (Hayes or Curry, I forget) wanted to include the phrase in a telegram, but didn’t know how to spell “sou” – the other (either Curry or Hayes) wasn’t familiar with the expression, and couldn’t see what indians had to do with the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/18 "2012-11-19T12:08:57Z")
> [@listedmia](#): > > Related question: I was reading _The Count of Monte Christo_, I think, and they talked about someone in prison hiding something inside “a big sou”. What would that be and how is it different from a regular sou? If I remember correctly, the story used a large coin that was old but still in use (the late 18th and early 19th in France were fertile ground for new currencies). The coin was apparently so large that it was possible to saw it in two like a bagel and hollow out the interior to hide small objects in it. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/19 "2012-11-19T12:21:42Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > You have my attention… (On the “30 sous = a quarter” part.) Well, I just did a little research, and… we’re not sure. Some say that, when the Canadian dollar was introduced in the 19th century, it was on par with some other currency which was in common use in Lower Canada and which was divided into 120 sous. So for a time, the quarter-dollar was worth 30 sous. The smaller denominations were less obvious to correlate (5 cents = 5/120, etc.) so they didn’t get nicknames. And what other currency was that? Well, there’s debate on that as well. Some say it was the English pound or French livre, some talk about another currency called the _piastre_ (which is still used today to designate a dollar up here). ---
**Author:** ![dimmy\_derko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@dimmy\_derko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimmy_derko)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345/20 "2012-11-19T14:21:23Z")
> [@Heracles](#): > > If I remember correctly, the story used a large coin that was old but still in use (the late 18th and early 19th in France were fertile ground for new currencies). The coin was apparently so large that it was possible to saw it in two like a bagel and hollow out the interior to hide small objects in it. How ingenious. Now I want my own large, worthless coin to hide my valuables in. ps. To go with my pos Nokia mk1 phone that no self-respecting mugger would ever steal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ancient-or-mythical-currencies-question/641345.md?page=2)