Ledgers of the exchange table

Date: 1501 - 1700

Archive: Municipal Archive of Girona

Document type: Textual

Reference code: CAT-AMGi-5-018805

Link to the online document

Description: The Taula de Canvi i Comuns Dipòsits of the city of Girona was an economic institution that managed deposits and money orders, guarded jewels and other valuables, and performed municipal treasury functions. It was the first public bank in the city. The royal privilege to create it was granted in 1443, by Queen Mary, but it was not realized until 1568.
The institution was governed by a commission (called the Board of the Table) composed of the jurors of the city and nine deputies; the board dictated the ordinances that regulated its operation, which later had to be approved by the General Council, which reserved its direction. For this reason, its documentary collection was kept together with the documentation of the Ajuntament de Girona collection.
From the background, the 56 ledgers, which are approximately 46 cm, stand out due to their dimensions. height, 35 cm. wide and about 22 or 23 cm. of thickness The ledgers contain the credit and debit accounts open to the Table’s creditors.
This document is important at a European level because the Table of Exchange of Girona, like those of other cities in the Principality, including Barcelona, constitute the oldest European precedents for public savings banks. It was closed in 1738 by order of Felipe V.

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