27. The sons of Alypius [Olympius in Bekker's ed.], of
Symmachus, and of Maximus, spent, during their respective
praetorships, twelve, or twenty, or forty, 'centenaries'(or
hundredweight of gold). See Olympiodor. ap. Phot. p. 197 [p.
63, ed. Bekker]. This popular estimation allows some
latitude; but it is difficult to explain a law in the
Theodosian Code (1. vi. tit. iv. leg. 5) which fixes the
expense of the first praetor at 25,000, of the second at
20,000, and of the third at 15,000 'fol1es'. The name of
'follis' (see Mem. de l'Academie des Inscriptions, tom.
xxviii. p. 727) was equally applied to a purse of 125 pieces
of silver, and to a small copper coin of the value of 1/2625
part of that purse. In the former sense, the 25,000 folles
would be equal to �150,000; in the latter to five or six
pounds sterling. The one appears extravagant, the other is
ridiculous. There must have existed some third and middle
value, which is here understood; but ambiguity is an
inexcusable fault in the language of laws.