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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;medoraman, post: 1269313, member: 26302&quot;]Not to disagree with you needlessly Doug, but Guy is making my point as well. I think of it comparing the Philly or Denver mint to mints in former Soviet Republics in 1992. Sure, the equipment is still there, but maybe a lot of the staff fled or went back to the original country, the upper bureaucracy probably is gone, its hard to be able to obtain replacement parts, etc. This has to be a strain on the system and trying to get production out. Couple that with Doug&#039;s estimate of only about 4 mints, and those 4 mints would have to be producing twice each what Venice could do with a stable workforce, stable government, etc. That is why I thought it a large stretch.</p><p><br /></p><p>Back to Guy&#039;s original review, I simply think the author took a bunch of facts and assumptions, (or got them from another book), and when totalled came up with the correct mathematical answer. The problem is that answer seems very implausible given the situation and similar comparisons, which simply leads me to challenge the assumptions. I do not think the author did it intentionally, but this happens a lot in finance too. Its easy to get carried away in your own little world of numbers and assumptions, and to forget to touch base with reality and some known touchstones, (like Doug&#039;s mintage figures for Venices and Doug S. estimate of mint numbers). In my MBA days I read a stock report for Ebay that, if one did the math, estimated the percentage WORLDWIDE of the population using Ebay by 2010 to be 115%. Reality checks are always needed when constructing scenarios.</p><p><br /></p><p>Chris</p><p><br /></p><p>Edit: I think its a great discussion, and I would never be so bold as to say I know I am right. Maybe these numbers are correct, if so I just have a hard time reconciling that with other facts I thought I knew. I do know the 30,000 per die number just itself is extremely controversial amongst people with greater knowledge than I.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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