Vellons
Vellons were a type of medieval European coin. The term vellon is thought to derive from the Latin word "vellus," meaning fleece, likely referring to the wool trade which was a significant economic activity during that period. These coins were typically made of billon, an alloy of silver and copper, with a low silver content. This meant that their intrinsic value was considerably less than that of pure silver coins.
Vellons were common in various Italian city-states and other parts of Europe from the 13th century onwards.