Johann Friedrich Gronovius lecturing on Roman currency at Leiden University, surrounded by other identified scholars. Engraving by A. van Zijlvelt, 1691.

A gathering of scholars seated around a long table. Left, at the head of the table, is seated Johannes Fredericus Gronovius, holding a coin. In front sits Justus Lipsius (professor at Leiden university 1579-1590), also holding a coin, while at the right end of the table sits Joseph Justus Scaliger (at Leiden university 1593-1609), also holding a coin. According to the key published by Lunsingh Scheurleer and Posthumus Meyjes, loc. cit., the man to right of Gronovius is Hadrianus Junius, to the right of Junius is François Hotman, and to the right of Hotman is Claudius Salmasius. Next to Gronovius is inscribed 'centesimae usurae' (in Roman law, the highest rate of interest, amounting to 12 percent a year); and 'foenus unciarium' (in the law of the XII tables, a rate of interest of 1/12, the highest legal interest in the early Roman republic). Both inscriptions refer to a book on interest in antiquity which Gronovius had published in 1661. In the background on the left is a library, in the centre a framed inscription (Ioannis Frederici Gronovii, Pecunia vetus), and on the right is a coin cabinet