Abstract The development of the Swedish monetary system in the eighteenth century attracted the attention of contemporary European theorists! because of the various experiments that were made in the issue of notes which tended to result in periods of fluctuating exchange rates alternating with others when money remained stable in terms of silver. In the present century Swedish historians have analysed the surviving source material carefully, but have mainly tended to discuss the political conditions under which the monetary system operated.2 and the periods during which the rates of exchange fluctuated.3 With the publication of the present work the period from the stabilisation of the riksdaler in 1776 to the upheaval in the Swedish monetary system following the war with Russia in 178890 has also been carefully examined, the source material in the central bank's archives being supplemented by other material showing how the discount houses 4 helped to finance the economy.