It seems to be a common thing in medieval fiction for someone to be paid in silver or gold coins.
I was just watching "A Knight's Tale", and at the beginning they were paid 15 "silver florins". They divide it up three ways and they're all super excited about all the food and things they're planning on buying.
If one of them wanted to go to an inn and purchase a meal, for example, how would they pay? I'm assuming a meal would cost FAR less than a "silver florin". Would they get change? Would they "break' it into smaller units of currency for such small purchases? Did smaller units of currency exist?
In Germany during the 16th century a Florin was worth about 120 pence. A loaf of bread and jug of wine would cost about 35 pence.
Assuming similar values held in the medieval period then five florins was enough to eat for quite a while.
Well paid persons during that period (and location) could expect to make 100+ florins a year while a servant might earn ten to fifteen.
(I know this is not the specified time period but this is what I have information for)