1
m
PRESENTED BY
ROYAL ONTARIO MUSEUM
ARCHAEOLOGY**
>
THE
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE,
(JOURNAL OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.)
EDITED BY
JOHN YONGE AKERMAN,
FELLOW AND SECRETARV OF THE SOCIETY OF ANTIQUARIES OF LONDON.
VOL. XV.
^U'/;;,,
APRIL, 1852. JANUARY. 1853.
Fact um abiit monumenta maneiit. Ov. Fast.
LONDON :
JOHN RUSSELL SMITH, 36, SOHO SQUARE,
SOLD ALSO BY M. ROLLIN, RUE VIVIENNE, NO. 12, PARIS.
M.DCOC.UH.
Nt
LONDON :
miNTEl> BY J. WEUTIIEIMEH AND CO.
riKCUS I't/ACE, F1NSBUHY CIHCITS.
TO
JOHN LINDSAY, ESQ.,
OF CORK,
THIS
OUR FIFTEENTH VOLUME
IS
INSCRIBED.
CONTENTS.
ANCIENT NUMISMATICS.
Page.
Answer to Remarks by J. Evans, Esq., on " The
Coins of Cunobeline, and of the Ancient Britons;
bytheRev.BealePoste" 1
Regal Syrian Tetradrachms, found at Tarsus; by
M.Borrell . . . 40
Inedited Roman Coins; by C. R. Smith . . 74
African Regal Coins; by W.H. Scott . . .82
Remarks on rare and unpublished Coins; by J.
Evans 93
Remarkable Coin of Carausius ; by J. Cove Jones . 97
British Silver Coins, found at Warton ; by C. R. Smith 98
On the Orthographical form of the names inscribed
on certain English and British Coins; by
Edmund Oldfield . . .107
Coins of Helena ; by William H. Scott . . .188
Numismatic Rectifications; by the same . . , 203
iy CONTENTS.
Page.
On the date of British Coins inscribed, " Dubno-
vellaunos," and on the legend " Tasciovani F ;"
by the Rev. Beale Poste . . . 208
MEDIAEVAL AND MODERN NUMISMATICS.
Gold Medal on the raising of the Siege of Stralsimd . 58
Memoir of Johann Crocker; by J. G. Pfister . . 67
Medal presented by Charles the First to Sir
R.Welch . .80
Remarks on Rare and Unpublished Coins; by
J. Evans . . .92
Another Type of Baldred 102
ORIENTAL NUMISMATICS.
Coins of the Indo-Scythian Princes of Cabul ; by
H. Torrens 22
Remarkable Indo-Sassanian Coins; by E. Thomas . 56
Supplementary Contributions to the series of the
Coins of the Patan Sultans of Hindustan; by
Edward Thomas 121147
Notice on certain unpublished Coins of the Sassanidas;
by the same ....... 180
DISCOVERIES OF COINS.
Of Roman near Rochester, and of a Denarius of the
family Rubria . . . . . . .59
Of English at Calais 60
Of another Coin inscribed VIRI. 105
CONTENTS. vii
MISCELLANEA.
Page.
Roman Coins struck in the Mint of London . . 60
Medals of Charles I Forgeries of five-franc pieces
Coins of the London Mint 1045
ERRATA.
Page 15 line 17 for from the first reading, read from the first,
the reading.
70 3, for 1672, read 1701.
105 3, for Bust of Charles Rex, read Bust of
Charles I. to the right.
11, for Gayza. read Gonzaga.
12, for Duke of Mantua, read Duke and Duchess
of Mantua.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUMISMATIC
SOCIETY.
SESSION 185152.
NOVEMBER 27, 1851.
The LORD LONDESBOROUGH, President, in the Chair.
The following Presents, received during the recess, were an-
nounced and laid upon the table :
Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der
Wissenschaften Philosophisch-historische
Classe Erster Band (Memoirs of the Im-
perial Academy of Sciences Philosophical
and historical division. First volume).
2 parts pp. 453, and 6 plates, and pp. 186,
and 6 plates, forming Vol. I. ; Part I. of
Vol. II. pp. 314, with 16 pp. of supplement,
and 6 plates. Folio. Vienna, 1 850.
Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlichen Akademie
der Wissenschaften Philosophisch-histo-
rische Classe (Reports of the Meetings of
the Imperial Academy of Sciences, etc).
2 vols. for 1850. 8vo., pp. 346 and 870,
and 2 plates.
Archiv fur Kunde osterreichischer Geschichts-
Quellen (Documents illustrating the sources
of Austrian History). 3 Parts, forming
Vol. I. 8vo., pp. 654., Vienna, 1850; and
Part I. of Vol. II., 8vo.
Fontes Rerum Austriacarum. Diplomatica et
Acta. Liber fundationum Monasterii Zwet-
lensis. 8vo., pp. 736. Vienna 1851.
B
PRESENTED BY
THE ACADEMY.
DITTO.
DITTO.
DITTO.
2 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
PRESENTED BY
Memorial Historico-Espafiol. Part I. 8vo., ) ROYAL ACADEMY OF
pp.88, Madrid, 1851. j HISTORY AT MADRID.
Souvenirs de Kertch, et Chronologie du Roy-
aume de Bosphore. Par J. Sabatier. 4to..
pp. 128, 8 plates and index pp. 11. St. > I
Petersburg, 1849.
Production de 1'or, de 1'argent, et du cuivre,
chez les anciens, et Hotels monetaires des
Empires Romain et Byzantin. Par J. et L. DITTO.
Sabatier. 8vo., pp. 174, St. Petersburg,
1850.
Brief an Herrn A. von Rauch iiber einige
unedirte Griechische Miinzen (Letter to
M. A. von Rauch, on certain inedited Greek DITTO.
coins). By B. von Kohne. 8vo., pp. 23,
and 1 plate, St. Petersburg, 1850.
Trois Medailles relatives a 1'histoire des Pays ^
Bas. Supplement a Van Loon,, Par Re- (^
nier Chalon. 8vo., pp. 13, and 1 plate. (
Brussels, 1851. J
DITTO.
Une Medaille de Charles de Croy. Par Renier j
Chalon, 8vo., pp. 7, Brussels, 1851. j
Quelques monnaies seigneurales. Lippe,
Hohen-Limbourg, Randerode, Homes, St.
Herenberg, etc. Par Renier Chalon. 8vo., > r
pp. 16, and 1 plate. Brussels, 1851.
Le dernier Pretendant de Looz. Monnaie de 1
Bree. Par Renier Chalon. 8vo., pp. 5, I DITTO.
and 1 plate.
Numismatique Boulonnaise. Sur les deniers "j
de Mathieu Comte de Boulogne. Par C. > DITTO.
Marmin. 8vo.,pp.l2, and 1 plate. J
Hommes et Choses. Alphabet des Passions }
et des Sensations. Par M. Boucher de > DITTO.
Perthes. 12mo., pp. 520. Paris, 1851. j
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Vol.
IV. Part II. and Supplement. 8vo., Vol. \ THE ACADEMY.
V., Part I.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 3
PRESENTED BY
Catalogue of Roman Silver Coins in the library }
of Trinity College, Dublin. 8vo., pp. 96. (
Dublin, 1839. )
Catalogue of the Bank of England Library }
and Literary Association, instituted March > W. D. HAGGARD, ESQ.
1st, 1850. 8vo., pp. 68. )
A Chemical examination of the Metals and "j
Alloys known to the Ancients. By J. Ar- > THE AUTHOR.
thur Phillips. Svo., pp. 48. )
William Brice, Esq. (elected January 24, 1850), and William
Chaffers, Esq., F.S.A. (elected June 26, 1851), were duly admitted
members of the Society.
Mr. C. Roach Smith exhibited the British coin in brass, of which
---
a cast was produced at the meeting of the 27th of February, 1851,
and which is described at p. 15 of the Proceedings of the Society
for 185051.
READ. 1. A paper by the Treasurer, on a coin in third brass of
the Emperor Carausius, in the collection of Mr. C. Roach Smith,
and published by him in his " Collectanea Antiqua," Vol. II. p. 153,
from which work the engraving of this coin in the Numismatic
Chronicle, Vol. XIII. p. 150, was supplied.
Obv. IMP. CARAVSIVS P. F. AVG. The bare head of Ca-
rausius full-faced.
Rev. SALVS AVG. Hygeia feeding from a patera a serpent
which rises from the base of an altar. In the exergue the
letter C, probably for Clausentum.
The type of the obverse is unique, both as to the head being bare,
and the portrait full-faced. It was discovered at Wroxeter, on the
site of the Roman town Urioconium or Viroconium, and was pre-
sented to Mr. C. Roach Smith by the Rev. E. Egremont.
4 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
2. A letter from Mr. Akerman to Lord Londesborough, as fol-
lows :
" Somerset House, 25th Nov., 1851.
" MY LORD,
" In the summer of the present year, a gentleman
resident at Cologne called on me, and shewed me several curious
and rare coins of the Roman series, among which was a Pescennius
Niger in gold. Jfev.- CONCORDIA P. P. Concord standing . He
stated that this piece was obtained by a Missionary at Antioch, and
shortly afterwards came into his possession. I examined this coin
very carefully, and have no doubt of its authenticity ; and I regret
that I was not permitted to take an impression of it. The fabric
was rude, and differed from that of the Roman mintage of this
period ; nor did it resemble that of the rude coins of the other
candidate for the empire, Clodius Albinus, with the title of Augustus.
The possessor promised me drawings of this and other curious
examples in his cabinet, and I hope ere long to exhibit them to the
Numismatic Society.
" The same gentleman also shewed me eight sceattas, in very
perfect preservation, of the types of Ruding's first plates, Nos. 4 to
1 4 inclusive, which he was informed had been found at Mayence by
workmen employed in the repairs of the fortifications of that city.
The post of this day, however, brings me a letter from the possessor,
whom I had entreated to make particular enquiry in order to verify
the exact spot where these coins were found, and who now informs
me that he had since learnt that they were dug up in East Fries -
land, and that the whole number amounted to one hundred and
fifty specimens. It is said, too, that there were more than forty
varieties; but in what these varieties consisted, whether they were
material variations from the numbers engraved by Ruding, or whe-
ther their difference consisted merely of modifications of the same
barbarous types, could not be ascertained.
" The Numismatist must deeply regret that the particulars of
this find are probably for ever lost to us ; but whatever doubt may
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 5
be entertained as to the actual locus in quo, we may safely conclude
that a parcel of coins, of a type hitherto placed amongst the earliest
specimens of the currency of our Anglo-Saxon forefathers, has
been found at a considerable distance from England, under circum-
stances which justify our entertaining a doubt as to their supposed
origin and the country of their mintage.
" I have the honour to remain,
" My Lord,
" Your Lordship's faithful servant,
" J. Y. AKERMAN.
" To the Lord Londesborough,
" President of the Numismatic Society."
3. A paper by the Treasurer, descriptive of three unpublished
English coins :
1 . A penny of Cuthred, king of Kent.
Qb Vt + EVDRED REX, without bust; a cross pate" with a
pellet in the centre; in each angle a small wedge or
triangle.
Rev. \- EABA. A tribrach with a small circle in the centre,
inclosing a very small tribrach composed of three wedges ;
a similar wedge also in each arm of the larger tribrach.
The coin in many respects resembles that engraved in Ruding,
Plate III. No. 3, and especially the fragment, No. 54, in Hawkins.
2. A penny of Baldred, or Beldred, king of Kent, the successor
of Cuthred, and the last of the sovereigns of that division of the
heptarchy.
Obv. BALDBED FEX CN. Bust to the right, very like
Hawkins, No. 58.
Rev. DVNVN MO1SETA. A cross moline in the centre.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
The peculiarities of the R being rather like an F, and also that of
the back of the hair, or the ear, being indicated by a Mercian 00,
which are found in the obverse of the coin No. 58, in Hawkins,
occur also on this specimen. The A in the king's name is inverted.
The mode of abbreviating the word Cantii differs from that on any
other coin of Kent ; and the form of the C is very peculiar. The
coin was found near Guildford, and has unfortunately met with
rough usage.
3. A penny of William the Conqueror.
The reverse of this coin is of the type No. 233 of Hawkins,
and the obverse also resembles that type in general style ; but the
head is turned in the opposite direction, and is larger, filling up
more completely the field of the coin.
4. A letter from Mr. Evans, in which, referring to a communica-
tion from Mr. Rashleigh (Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. XII. p. 165),
descriptive of a coin resembling the pennies of Stephen, but reading
PERERIE, and supposed to have been struck by an Earl of War-
wick ; and to another specimen exhibited by Mr. Webster, on the
28th of November, 1850 (see Proceedings for 1850 51, p. 5), he
mentions a third variety which he had discovered in the Museum
Collection, and which had hitherto been considered as a coin of
Stephen.
5. A paper by Mr. Williams, giving an account of a second work
on Chinese coins, in the library of the Society, entitled a " List or
Catalogue of Imperial Authorised Money." There is a preface,
followed by borne introductory remarks, in which we are informed
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 7
that the work is in sixteen sections, and was presented to Keen
Lung in his fifteenth year, a date answering to A.D. 1751. It ap-
pears, however, to have gone through more than one edition, as,
further on, there occurs an allusion to the fifty-second year and
second month of the same Emperor ; and this is probably the date
of the copy in question, namely, 1788. The author or compiler
seems to have been a person in the employment of the crown, and
to have been assisted by other persons, whose names are mentioned,
and who were also servants of the government. The introduction
is followed by a copious index, or table of contents, in which the
particulars of each of the sixteen sections are enumerated.
The first section professes to describe the money of Fuh-Hi, and
the succeeding emperors who reigned, according to Chinese chrono-
logy, from B.C. 3289 to B.C. 2218. The second section, passing
over an interval of 1,800 years, opens abruptly with the coins of
King- Wang, the twenty-fifth emperor of the Chow dynasty, who
reigned about B.C. 500. The sections three to thirteen, in like
manner, continue the series down to a date answering to the year
1 644 of the Christian era. The fourteenth section is devoted to
foreign money, and describes coins of some of the states adjacent
to China, such as Japan, Corea, etc. The last two sections describe
extraordinary money, which may be considered to correspond with
our medals, and are exceedingly varied in type and figure.
While Mr. Williams rejects the claims of the writer of the work
for the incredible antiquity assigned to the corns described in the
first section, he is of opinion that many of them may justly be
referred to periods of very high antiquity. The authentic records
of China go back to very remote ages ; and after the accession of
the Hea dynasty, B.C. 2218, there is nothing in the annals them-
selves which would materially affect their veracity. The average
duration of the reigns of the emperors is about twenty-four years,
a period which is about the same as the average of the reigns of
modern European sovereigns, and which affords proof that the
average duration of human life is much the same now as it was
3,000 years ago. Mr. Williams expresses his opinion that Chinese
8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
history may, in a great measure, be depended upon for a period com-
mencing B.C. 2218 ; and as the various revolutions which have so
materially affected the permanency of other nations, however power-
ful in their time, have never had any great effect upon the Chinese
empire, its annals form one of the most curious and authentic
histories in existence ; and the consistent account given in them of
the uninterrupted succession of dynasties, emperors, and events, for
a period of upwards of 4,000 years, is absolutely without parallel
in the history of any other nation upon earth. Mr. Williams' paper is
published in full in Vol. XIV. of the Numismatic Chronicle, p. 155.
6. Mr. Pfister exhibited a fine and very rare coin (Lira) of Cosmo I.
de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, 1537 1574, executed by
Benvenuto Cellini.
Obv. The youthful, handsome, and unbearded bust of Cosmo,
represented at the age of twenty, he having been born in
1519. The coin was struck in 1539. He is still repre-
sented only as Duke of the Florentine Republic. COSM VS
MED. R. P. FLOREN. DVX. II. [Cosmus Mediceus, Rei-
publicse Florentise Dux secundus] .
Rev. A representation of the general judgment. Our Saviour
seated upon clouds in the act of giving judgment ; on each
side is an angel sounding the trumpet, and in the clouds
appear also heads of cherubims. The legend is IN
VIRTVTE TV7T IVDIOS ME.
In Orsini's Storia delle Monete della Casa de* Medici, the following
observation is made, namely, that in the book of the Florentine
merchants under the letter A, is mentioned a deliberation which
took place on the 26th of August, 1536, giving an order for striking
this coin, of the value of 20 solidi, and to be of the standard of 1 1
ounces 12 denari of fine silver to the pound, with the usual alloy;
and that the die for this coin was executed by Benvenuto Cellini.*
* " Questa Moneta fu fatta del precitato Benvenuto Cellini." Orsini, p. 19,
Plate IV., No. XIX.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.
DECEMBER 18, 1851.
EDWARD HAWKINS, ESQ., Vice -President, in the Chair.
The following Presents were announced and laid upon the table ;
PRESENTED BY
Hartwellianse, or Notices of the Manor )
and Mansion of Hartwell. By Capt. W. /
H. Smyth, R.N. 4to., pp.414, with 13 V T ^\ U E T E HOR AND
plates and many woodcuts. London. 1851 I
(not published) . J
Collectanea Antiqua. Part VII. of Vol. II. )
By C. Roach Smith, Esq. 8vo. f THE AuTnOR '
FEBRUARY 26, 1852.
The LORD LONDESBOROUGH, President, in the Chair.
The following Presents were announced, and laid upon the table ;
PRESENTED BY
Socie"te* Royale des Antiquaires du Nord.
Rapport des Seances annuelles de 1848-51. [> THE SOCIETY.
8vo. pp. 16.
Report addressed by the Royal Society of }
Northern Antiquaries to its British and (
American members. 8vo., pp. 188, and 6 f
plates. Copenhagen, 1836. )
Antiquarisk Tidsskriffc udgivet af det Kongelige "\
Nordiske Oldskrift Selskab. (Antiquarian /
Periodical, published by the Royal Northern (
Palseographical Society.) 1846-48. 8vo., ? L
pp. 308, 1 plate and 3 maps. Copenhagen, \
1849. J
Memoires de la Socie"te Arche'ologique de )
TOrleannois. Tome premier. Royal 8vo., I
pp. 377, with plates and maps. Orleans (
and Paris, 1851. J
Bulletin de la Societe Arche"ologique de
1'Orl^annois. 8vo., pp. 65 to 135. Orleans, [ DITTO.
1850-51.
10
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
PRESENTED BY
Aperu de 1'ancienne Geographic des Regions
antiques de 1'Amerique, selon les rapports
contenus dans les Sagas du Nord. Par ;> THE AUTHOR.
Charles Christian Rafh. 8vo., pp. 11, and
maps. Copenhagen, 1847.
Coutumes locales du Baillage d' Amiens re-
digees en 1507. Publiees d'apres les ma-
nuscrits originaux. Par M. A. Bouthors. THE AUTHOR.
Tome II. 7meserie. 4to.,pp. 580. Amiens,
1851.
Recherches sur les Monnaies des Comtes de }
Hainaut. Par Renier Chalon. Supplements. > DITTO.
4to., pp. 68, and 3 plates. Brussels, 1852. )
Guide to Northern Archaeology, by the Royal
Society of Northern Antiquaries of Co-
penhagen. Edited for the use of English THE EDITOR.
readers by the Earl of Ellesmere. 8vo.,
pp. 128. London, 1848.
Reliquiae Antiques Eboracenses. By William 1
Bowman. Part I. 4to., pp. 16, 3 plates and 'THE AUTHOR.
wood-cuts. Leeds, 1851. J
Thomas Faulkner, Esq., of Oak Villa, Birkenhead, was ballotted
for, and elected into the Society.
Mons. J. Sabatier, Member of the Imperial Archaeological Society
of St. Petersburg, was ballotted for, and elected an Associate of the
Society.
READ. 1. A letter from Mr. Akerman to the President, accom-
panying the exhibition of a gold medal, struck in the year 1628 to
commemorate the raising of the siege of Stralsund. It is the pro-
perty of the Hon. W. Leslie Melville, to whose ancestor, Sir Alex-
ander Leslie, afterwards first Earl of Leven, it was presented by
Gustavus Adolphus. A full description of this medal, which, if not
unique, is of the first rarity, is inserted in the Numismatic Chronicle,
Vol. XV. p. 58.
2. A paper by Seth W. Stevenson, Esq., of Norwich, on the in-
cription CONOB or COMOB, frequently found on Roman gold coins
of the lower empire ; but occasionally on those of silver, and some-
times even on those of copper. Mr. Stevenson reviews the different
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 11
theories as to the signification of these letters, which have been
adopted by numismatic writers, from Cedremis, a Greek author,
who absurdly interprets them as standing for Civitates Omnes Nostrce
Obediant Beneratione, down to the learned and judicious Eckhel.
Some are in favor of the reading CON-stantinopolitanum OB-ryzum ;
others read CON-stantinopoli OB-signatum, or CON-stantinopoli
Moneta OB-signata, or CON-stantinopoli Officina B ; i. e. secunda.
Other interpretations have been suggested with less probability.
Vaillant's opinion is, that the proper reading is CON-flatum OB-ry-
zum, or CON-flata Moneta OB-ryza, in allusion to the purity of the
metal. Eckhel, after recapitulating and discussing many of these
conjectures, states that he feels as little certainty respecting the real
meaning of the letters, as he does satisfaction with the various
theories of the learned ; but he thinks that on the whole the inter-
pretation given by Vaillant, offers the fewest difficulties ; the most
embarrassing objection to it, namely, that instances occur where the
letters in question are found on brass coins, being in some measure
obviated by the similarity of the type of such coins to the type of
the gold, and the probability that both may have been struck from
the same dies.
3. A paper by Mr. Williams, on some Chinese coins and medals
belonging to Mr. H. S. Bohn. These coins are twenty-three in
number, and consist of seventeen of the ordinary currency of the
Chinese Empire, and six larger specimens, which may be considered
as answering to our medals. They are of the usual mixed metal,
much resembling brass, and are for the most part in very good
preservation.
On the authority of works in the library of the Society, descriptive
of the coinage of China, which have been the subject of former
papers by Mr. Williams, he attributes the coins to two dynasties ;
that of the Sung, which ascended the throne of China about A.D.
962, and lasted about 320 years, being overturned by Jenghis
Khan, who established the succeeding dynasty, the Yuen, about
A.D. 1281 ; and that of the Tsing, the present reigning dynasty,
which succeeded the Ming in 1644.
12 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
. The coins, then, are of the following Emperors :
Specimens.
Shin-Sung. Sixth emperor of the Sung dynasty, who ascended
the throne about 1068, and reigned about
eighteen years. Six coins of two different
types 6
Che-Sung. Son and successor of Shin-Sung, A.D. 1086-1 101 1
Wei-Sung. Brother and successor of the preceding, A.D. 1101
1126. Three coins of different types . 3
Heaou-Sung, a grandson of Wei-Sung, A.D. 1164 1191 . 1
None of the above have any inscription on the reverse.
The remaining coins are of the reigning dynasty.
A.D. A.D.
Chun-Che . . 16441661.
Kang-He . . 16611722.
Yung-Ching . 17221736.
Keen-Lung . . 17361795.
Kea-King . . 17951821.
Taou-Kwang . 18211850.
These have all an inscription in Tartar characters on the reverse,
implying either the value of the coin, or the place where it was
struck ; and they form the ordinary currency of China at the present
day.
The remaining pieces are of various kinds and sizes, but all of
them larger than the preceding class. The legends and purpose
of them are very obscure ; but some appear to have been intended
for badges or talismans, and one seems to have been struck as a
medal to be presented to persons who had attained a certain official
rank.
4. A letter from Richard Sainthill, Esq., of Cork, addressed to
the Treasurer.
" My dear Sir, " Cwk, 23rd Dec., 1851.
" Should you think this communication interesting to
the Numismatic Society, you will please to lay it, and the coins,
before them.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 13
" The late W. Williams, Esq., of the 54th Regt., very obligingly
presented me with about sixty coins, usually termed small Roman
brass, though these are struck in copper, accompanied with the fol-
lowing note of information as to their very singular discovery.
" ' These small Roman coins were found in a copper mine, near
Perrenworth in Cornwall, which mine is situated in the centre of a
small creek in the Falmouth harbour. When the tide was out, they
succeeded in forming a small island ; afterwards they bored down
through it. At thirty fathoms below the bed of the river the coins
were found about two or three handfuls. I obtained them from a
very respectable person, whose relation was present, and helped
himself to a handful. I have made every enquiry as to the others,
but was unable to learn anything of them.
" ' At thirty-six fathoms, a piece of an elk's horn, and of its skull,
similar to those found in this country (Ireland), were also found,
which I have in my possession at home, in Cornwall. Fermoy, 1st
Jan., 1846.'
" These coins are extremely small ; some of them are only five
sixteenths of an inch in diameter, weighing four grains, and few are
double that size. They appear to me to have been struck in com-
paratively large dies, and, consequently, have received the impression
of only a small part of obverse or reverse ; so that scarcely any
inscription, or the subject, on either side the coins, can be made
out. Of those that can be appropriated, all belong to the Emperor
Tetricus, A.D. 267, except one of his son, P. Pivesus Tetricus, A.D.
276. Their workmanship is extremely rude, more particularly the
reverses. I should imagine that they were coined in England, and
were intended for, and had, local circulation in our island.
" Yours truly,
RICHARD SAINTHILL.
" To J. B. Bergne, Esq., London."
On an inspection of the coins, the prevailing opinion was, that
they were not the productions of genuine Roman dies, but were
imitations of Roman coins, and struck by the Britons after the
14 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
departure of the Romans from that part of the island in which they
were found. A land-slip may possibly have been the cause of their
being buried at so great a depth.
With reference to the paper which had been read on Mr. Bonn's
Chinese coins, Mr. Jones read the foE owing extract from the "Times"
newspaper of the 1 9th instant, as showing that the Chinese mode of
adapting coins for stringing, had been adopted in California:
" Nothing later had been received from California. A writer
" from Washington describes in one of the papers, a new form of
" coinage for gold dollars and half-dollars, by which the objection
" on account of smallness is sought to be obviated. He says, I
" have seen the new gold pieces sent from the Philadelphia Mint to
" the Honourable George S. Houstoun, chairman of the committee of
" ways and means. The coins consist of a flat ring, on which there
" is a superscription, but no head, as the place for putting the head
" is cut out. The only objection to this kind of coin is the
" detrition to which, it seems to me, it must be very liable. On the
" other hand, the coin may be carried on a string, a most convenient
" and safe way of carrying money. Half-dollar gold pieces, not yet
" called for by any law, have been sent down, and look very pretty.
" These half-dollar gold pieces would be more convenient still than
" the dollar pieces, and may be carried in the same way."
MARCH 25, 1852.
EDWARD HAWKINS, ESQ., Vice-President, in the Chair.
The following presents were announced, and laid upon the table:-
PRESENTED BY
Archiv fiir Kunde osterreichischen Geschichts }
Quellen. (Documents illustrating the Sources I IMPERIAL ACADEMY
of Austrian History). 2 Parts for 185-1. 8vo. )
Notizenblatt. Beilage zum Archiv, etc.")
(Proceedings, Supplement to Documents, > DITTO.
etc., as above). Nos. 1 to 18. 8vo., 1851.)
DITTO.
DITTO.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.
PRESENTED BY
Denkschriften der kaiserlichen Akademie der \
Wissenschaften (Memoirs of the Imperial f THE ACADEMY
Academy- of Sciences). Concluding part of (
Vol. II. )
Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlichen Akademie
der Wissenschaften (Reports of the Meet-
ings of the Imperial Academy of Sciences).
Vol. VI., 8vo., pp. 549. Vol. VIL, Part I.,
8vo. , 1851. And a Vol. containing 20 plates,
oblong folio.
Die Alterthiimer vom Hallstatter Salzberg"
und dessen Umgebung, als Beilage zu den
Sitzungsberichten der kaiserlichen Akademie
der Wissenschaften, Band IV. 1 850. (The
Antiquities of the Salt Hill of Hallstadt and
its Neighbourhood, as a Supplement to
Vol. IV. of the Reports of the Meetings of
the Imperial Academy of Sciences.) By
Friedrich Simony. Oblong folio, pp. 11,
and 7 coloured plates. ,
Fontes Rerum Austriacarum. Diplomatica et ")
Acta. Liber fundationis Ecclesise Collegiatse (
Clautroneoburgensis. 8vo., pp. 341, and aj
plate. )
Coins, Weights, and Measures, Ancient and
Modern, of all Nations, reduced into Eng-
lish in above 100 Tables; collected and > MR. WILLS.
methodized from Newton, Folkes, Arbuthnot,
Fleetwood, etc. By J. Millan. I2mo, 1747.
Description des Monnaies Espagnoles, et des'
Monnaies trangeres qui ont eu cours en
Espagne depuis les temps les plus recules
jusqu' a nos jours, composant le Cabinet
monetaire de Don Jos6 Garcia de la Torre
(Sale Catalogue of the Collection). Par
Joseph GaiUard. 8vo., pp. 516, and 22
plates. Madrid, 1852.
Three Steel Dies, supposed to have been re-'
cently engraved for a person of the name of
Emery, for the purpose of striking forgeries
of the Irish testoon of Mary of England,
the Scottish testoon of Mary Queen of
Scots, and the thirty shilling piece of Mary
and Henry of Scotland. '
15
MR. GAILLARD.
LORD LONDESBOROUGH.
16 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
On the proposition of the Council, John Yonge Akerman, Esq.,
and Charles Roach Smith, Esq., were elected Honorary Members
of the Society, in testimony of the sense entertained of the zealous
and able services rendered by them to the Society since its establish-
ment, and to the study of Antiquities at large.
Mr. Hawkins produced and read, a copy of a Warrant under the
sign manual of Charles I, dated Oxford, June 1, 1643, addressed to
Rawlins the engraver, directing him to prepare for Sir Robert
Welch a gold medal, bearing on one side the portraits of the king
and his son, Prince Charles; and on the other, the form of the
royal banner used at the battle of Edge- Hill. To the warrant was
annexed a tracing of the medal, which is engraved in the Numis-
matic Chronicle, Vol. XV., p. 80. Mr. Hawkins also read a copy
of an order from the Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal, dated August
14, 1685, for placing the said medal or badge, together with the
documents relating to it, on record in the Office of Arms.
Read, a paper by Mr. C. Roach Smith, containing a list of some
Roman coins of the Lower Empire, with reverses either entirely
inedited, or little known in this country. The list comprised coins
of Gallienus, Tetricus sen. and jun., Claudius Gothicus, Aurelian,
and Maximianus, in third brass ; of Diocletian, in second brass ; of
Valentinian, in gold ; and medallions, of Probus, in brass ; of Con-
stantine, in silver; and Constantius, in gold. The two last are in
the public Collection at Treves.
Mr. Smith also read a few remarks on some sceattse of rare types
in the collection of Mr. Wigan.
Read, a Memoir by Mr. Pfister, of Johann Crocker, better known
as John Croker, chief engraver and medallist of the Mint during the
reigns of Anne, George I., and George II. He was a native of
Saxony, and was born at Dresden on the 21st of October, 1670.
His father, who was a distinguished wood-carver, and cabinet-
maker to the Electoral Court of Saxony, died while he was very
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 17
young. When he arrived at a suitable age, he was apprenticed to
his godfather, an eminent goldsmith and jeweller at Dresden.
During his apprenticeship, he devoted his leisure hours to die- sinking
and medal-engraving, and for that purpose assiduously studied the
arts of drawing and modelling. He afterwards commenced tra-
velling in the exercise of his profession, visited most of the great
towns of Germany, and then went to Holland, and ultimately to
England, where he arrived in the year 1691. He here commenced
his career as a jeweller, but still continued the practice of medal-
engraving, and at length adopted it as his principal profession, In
1697, he was appointed an assistant to the chief engraver of the
Mint; and in 1705, on the decease of the latter, was named his
successor. He largely assisted in the preparation of the extensive
coinage which took place in the last years of the reign of William III.
The whole of the coins of Anne and George I. were executed by
him, as also those of the early part of the reign of George II. He
likewise executed for the Mint twenty-nine medals in the reign of
Anne, nine hi that of George I,, and four in that of George II. ;
besides the coronation medals of the two latter monarchs, and a
medal of Sir Isaac Newton. His death took place on the 21st of
March, 1741. A very curious and valuable MS. volume, entitled,
"The Designs of John Croker," lately obtained by the British
Museum, was referred to in Mr. Pfister's paper. It contains many
original designs for medals, by Croker, and the orders for their
execution, signed by the officers of the Mint. Among these, the
autograph of Sir Isaac Newton, then Master of the Mint, occurs
thirty times. This interesting volume was purchased by the Museum
at the sale of the library of Mr. Stanesby Alchorne, formerly an
officer of the Mint, into whose possession it had fallen, and as
whose private property it was (strange to say) publicly sold.
18 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
APRIL 22, 1852.
EDWARD HAWKINS, ESQ., Vice-President, in the Chair.
The following presents were announced, and laid upon the table :
PRESENTED BY
Lettres sur 1'histoire mone"taire de la France, }
par Etienne J.B.Cartier. 8vo. Blois, 1836- > THE AUTHOR.
50., pp. 383, portrait, and 28 plates. )
Collectanea Antiqua. By C. Roach Smith, ")
F.S.A. Parts VIII. and IX. completing V THE AUTHOR.
Vol. II. 8vo., 1852. j
READ 1. A paper by Mr. Sainthill, descriptive of a series of
thirty-one coins struck by Louis I., King of Bavaria, from 1825 to
1842; the reverses of which, unlike those of the coins of any other
existing mint, present historical or symbolical devices. These coins
are all of the dollar size, and, in general style of design, are on the
model of the Roman large brass series. After deducing the origin
and history of coined money, from the earliest recorded instance of
the use of the precious metals as a medium of exchange, Mr. Saint-
hill gives a list of these Bavarian dollars, with a description of the
designs, and a translation of the legends, which are in the German
language. The designs are commemorative of events in the history
of Bavaria, and especially in the reign of Louis, such as his accession ;
the institution of orders of knighthood; the establishment of the
Zollverein ; the election of Prince Otho to be King of Greece ; etc.,
etc. The artist who engraved the greater part of these coins is
Voight, who is known in this country by a medal of Lord Chancellor
Eldon. The execution is throughout very good, though some of
the figures, to an English eye, appear a little heavy.
2. A paper by Mr. Evans, accompanying the exhibition of the
following coins in his own collection :
1. Carausius, in third brass.
Obv. IMP. CARAVSIVS P. F. AVG. Radiated head to the
right.
T^.LEG. IIXX PRIMIG. Capricorn to the left. In the
exergue, M. L.
2. A British coin in gold. The type of the reverse is that known
as the Verulam type ; the reverse shows an armed horseman, and
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 19
the legend TASC. The chief interest of the coin arises from its
having the letters VER., in very minute characters, among the
ornaments of the obverse. The only other known specimen of the
type with these letters is in the cabinet of Mr. Cuff, and is engraved
in Ruding, and in the Numismatic Journal, Vol. I., p. 91. The coin
is of good work, and was formerly in Lord Holmesdale's Collection.
3. A sceatta, differing from any engraved, but something like
one published in Roach Smith's Collectanea Antiqua, Vol. I., pi. 23,
No. 4. It was discovered at Dunstable. The weight is 15| grains.
4. A half-penny of the first coinage of Edward VI., struck at Bristol.
This is a coin of the most extreme rarity, and was unknown until
within the last few years. Two specimens were however described
in the Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. VIII., p. 127 ; one of the London
mint, the other of the Bristol mint, from which latter, Mr. Evans'
specimen differs in several of the details.
Mr. Evans also noticed two remarkable stycas, belonging to
Mr. Webster, both reading on the obverse, B3OM RE + round a
cross, and suggested the possibility of their belonging to Beonna,
king of the East Angles, of whom coins in the sceatta form are
extant.
MAY 27, 1852.
DR. LEE in the Chair.
The following Presents were announced, and laid upon the table :
PRESENTED BY
Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlichen Akademie'
der Wissenschaften (Reports of the Meet-
ings of the Imperial Academy of Sciences). >
Vol. VII. Parts II., III., IV. 8vo. 1851-2.
Archiv fur Kunde osterreichischen Geschichts'
Quellen (Documents illustrating the sources
of Austrian History). Vol. VII. Parts I. f DlTT0 '
and II. 8vo. 1851.
Notizenblatt (Proceedings. Supplement to the {
above). Nos.XIX. to XXIV. 8vo. 1851. ) L
Observations sur quelques Medailles de "j
1'Elide. Par Ad. Duchalais. 8vo. pp. 19, > THE AUTHOR.
and 1 plate. )
20 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
PRESENTED BY
Prize Essay on the Application of the recent \
Inventions collected at the Great Exhibition |
of 1851, to the purpose of Practical Bank- > THE AUTHOR.
ing. By Granville Sharp. 8vo. pp. 43. I
London, '185 2.
Charles Bridger, Esq., of 3, Keppel-street, Russell-square, was
ballotted for, and elected into the Society.
Mr. Williams read a continuation of his paper descriptive of a
work on Chinese coins, in the library of the Society.
Read, a letter from Mr. C. Roach Smith to Lord Londesborough,
accompanying the exhibition of eight British silver coins, entrusted
to him by Mr. Goddard Johnson, part of a hoard which was recently
found at Weston, in Norfolk. The hoard consisted of between two
and three hundred coins ; and with them were found two consular
denarii, one of the Antonia, the other of the Cassia family. The
most numerous division of these coins are of the types engraved
in the Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. I., pi. II., figs. 15 to 20; and
Vol. II., pi. III., fig. 7. There is one specimen of a new type,
having on the reverse a horse, with the letters CAN or CAM
above, and below, DVRO. Mr. Smith's letter is published in the
Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. XV., p. 98, with an illustrative plate.
Mr. Saull exhibited a curious and unpublished silver medal of
Charles I., belonging to Mr. Pretty, of Northampton.
Olv. Bust of the king, the hair rather short, and the lovelock
over the left shoulder ; falling lace collar, figured armour
with lion's head on the shoulder ; scarf, with medal sus-
pended by a ribband. CAROLVS I. D.G. MAGN. BRIT.
FRANC. ET HIB. REX. ^ETATIS SV^E 1642 (sic.').
Diameter 2^ inches.
The reverse represents a figure in a car. It has no proper con-
nection with the obverse to which it is attached, but it was originally
published as a reverse to a medal by Trezzo of Hippolyta Gonzaga,
daughter of Ferdinand Duke of Mantua, who died in 1653.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 21
Mr. Vaux read an extract of a letter addressed to Mr. Burgon, of
the British Museum, by Mr. Newton, her Majesty's Consul at Mity-
lene ; in which he stated, that on passing through Athens on his
way to his post, he had the opportunity of inspecting several Greek
coins. Among them was a decadrachm or medallion of Alexander
the Great, a coin of which only two other specimens are known,
namely, one in the British Museum (lately obtained from Major
Rawlinson, and described and figured hi the Numismatic Chronicle,
Vol. XIII. , p. 70), and one in the cabinet of the Duke de Luynes.
Although the specimen at Athens had been suspected, Mr. Newton,
after a close examination, pronounces it genuine. Mr. Newton also
mentions a hoard of tetradrachms of Alexander the Great, discovered
about eighteen months ago, in a vase, by a peasant, near Patras. In
company with them were two coins of Sicyon, several of ^Etolia,
and other silver coins, together with, it is said, some gold coins of
Alexander the Great, though none of these last had been preserved.
Mr. Bergne read a short paper describing a penny of Baldred, or
Beldred, king of Kent, recently discovered in Suffolk, which differs
in some respects from any hitherto known.
Obv. + BELDRED REX EANT (the NT in monogram). In
the centre, a plain cross.
ft ev . f-TIDBEARHT. j n the centre, a cross, with the lower
limb divided into two divergent branches.
Mr. Vaux called the attention of the Society to a new publication
at Constantinople, entitled Journal Oriental de Constantinople, just
issued by H. Cayol.
Mr. Walter Hawkins, Mr. Oldfield, and Mr. Wilkinson, were ap-
pointed Auditors of the Accounts of the Society for the present
Session.
22 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
JUNE 24, 1852.
ANNIVERSARY MEETING.
JOHN B. BERGNE, ESQ., Treasurer, in the Chair.
The Report of the Council on the FOURTEENTH ANNIVERSARY,
was read as follows :
In presenting to the Society the usual brief annual summary of
then* proceedings and condition, the Council commence by stating
that, during the past year, only one Member has been lost by death ;
namely, Mr. Isaac Cullimore.
Mr. Cullimore was one of the original Members of this Society.
He contributed one or two papers to its transactions soon after its
establishment, and for a short time filled the office of one of its
Secretaries. His researches were, however, chiefly directed to
Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities and chronology in connection
with Biblical literature. He also devoted considerable time and
labour to the study of the cuneiform system of writing. Mr. Culli-
more was for many years an active member of the Royal Society of
Literature, and contributed several papers to its transactions. His
death took place at Clapham, on the 1 2th of April last.
It is not always easy to ascertain with certainty the casualties
among the list of our Foreign Associates. One name, however, the
Council regret to mention as having been removed from the number
by death during the past year, that of Mr. H. P. Borrell, of Smyrna,
who has for many years been so well known to all students of Greek
coins throughout Europe. He went from London to Smyrna,
where he established himself in business as a merchant, and resided
for the long period of thirty-three years, until his death, which took
place on the 2nd October, 1851. He found leisure amidst his
mercantile engagements to pursue his numismatic studies ; and,
partly from his own knowledge and diligence, and partly from the
favourable nature of his place of residence, he met with unusual
success in the discovery of inedited Greek coins. These he fre-
quently illustrated by papers which have at various times been
published in the Numismatic Chronicle, in the Revue Numismatique,
and in the various German periodicals devoted to numismatic
science. The only distinct work which he ever printed is an " Essay
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 23
on the Coins of Cyprus," a thin 4to. volume, published at Paris
in 1836.
The number of ascertained resignations and secessions during the
year has been four ; and the following four gentlemen have been
elected as Members:
Mr. John Allan Carnegie de Balinhard, of Boulogue-sur-Mer .
Mr. William Chaffers, F.S.A., of Old Bond-street.
Mr. Thomas Faulkner, F.S.A., of Oak Villa, Birkenhead.
Mr. Charles Bridger, of Keppel- street, Russell-square.
Monsieur Sabatier, member of the Imperial Archaeological Society
of St. Petersburgh, has been elected an associate.
In the course of the Session, Mr. Akerman and Mr. Charles Roach
Smith, have been, by a unanimous vote of the Society, constituted
Honorary Members, as a slight testimony of gratitude for their valuable
and gratuitous services as Honorary Secretaries for many years.
The numerical state of the Society is now as follows :
Original. Elected. Honorary. Associates. Total.
Members ) KA , . A ,
June, 1851 [ 47
Since elected 4217
39 58 3 48 148
Deceased 1 12
Transferred to Honorary 2 2
Resigned, or struck out 4 4
36 54 3 47 140*
An abstract of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Society for
the past year is annexed. The accounts have this day been audited
by Mr. Oldfield and Mr. Wilkinson, two of the Auditors appointed at
the meeting of the 27th May (the third, Mr .Walter Hawkins, having
been prevented from attending), and shew a balance of 70 19s. 5d.
in the hands of the Treasurer, after the payment of all claims upon
the Society to this day, with the exception of two of small amount,
for which application had not been made before the closing of the
account.
* It was not until after the presentation of this report, that the news was
received of the death of Mr. Vint of Colchester, which took place at that town
on the 22nd of June. The number of members is thus reduced to 139.
-3 05
* i
~ 3
00 H
^ H
pq
M
*
O O O O
O O O O
to o o <o o o o
CO l r-t tO f CO t^
rH
(NO rH CO O O <*
O5 fl
IO Oi
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 25
The following papers have been read before the Society during
the past Session. Some of those which presented features of the
greatest novelty or interest have been published in the Numismatic
Chronicle ; and of the remainder, some notice will be found in the
Abstract of Proceedings.
1. On the letters CONOB, found in the exergue of Roman
coins of the Lower Empire. By Mr. Stevenson.
2. On a gold coin of Pescennius Niger, found at Antioch ; and
on a find of sceattae in East Friesland: 3. On a gold medal,
struck in the year 1628 to commemorate the raising of the siege
of Stralsund. By Mr. Akerman.
4. On some small brass coins, apparently of Tetricus, found
in a creek of Falmouth harbour, thirty fathoms below the bed of the
river : 5. On the dollars of Louis I. of Bavaria, with historical
reverses. By Mr. Sainthill.
6. On a coin in the British Museum, hitherto ascribed to
King Stephen ; but now attributed to an Earl of Warwick : 7. On
some rare coins, in his own collection. By Mr. Evans.
8. On a work on Chinese coins, in the Library of the Nu-
mismatic Society : 9. On a small collection of Chinese coins, in the
possession of Mr. H. S. Bonn. By Mr. Williams.
10. Remarks on a Warrant of Charles I. for preparing a gold
medal with the portraits of himself and Prince Charles, for pre-
sentation to Sir Robert Welch. By Mr. Hawkins.
11. On some Greek corns lately examined at Athens. By
Mr. Newton.
12. On a list of unpublished Roman coins of various emperors,
from Gallienus to Valentinian: 13. On some British silver coins,
recently found at Weston, in Norfolk. By Mr. C. Roach Smith.
14. On a coin of Cosmo I. de Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany,
1537-74: 15. A Memoir of John Croker, chief engraver to the
Mint during the reigns of Anne, George I., and George II. By
Mr. Pfister.
16. On a full-faced coin of Carausius : 17. On unpublished
pennies of Cuthred and Baldred, kings of Kent, and of William the
Conqueror : 18. On another unpublished penny of Baldred, king of
Kent. By Mr. Bergne.
26
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
The following presents have been made to the Society by its
members and friends :
The Imperial Academy of Sciences
at Vienna,
The Society of Antiquaries of
Picardy,
The Archaeological Society of the
Orleannois,
Society of Northern Antiquaries,
The Royal Irish Academy,
Royal Academy of History of
Madrid,
Lord Londesborough,
Their Publications.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Mons. Cartier,
M. Sabatier,
M. Chalon,
Dr. Kohne,
M. Duchalais
M. Marnin
M. Rafn,
M. Bouthors,
Earl of Ellesmere,
Memorial Historico-Espanol.
Three steel dies, supposed to
have been recently engraved by
a person named Emery, for
striking forgeries of rare Scot-
tish coins.
His work, entitled, Letters on the
Monetary History of France.
His tracts on Kertch and the
kingdom of the Bosphorus ;
and on the production of gold,
silver, and copper among the
ancients.
Various tracts on coins and medals
of the Low Countries.
Letter to M. Rauch on some in-
edited Greek coins.
His tract on the coins of Elis.
His work, entitled, Numismatique
Boulonnaise.
His tract on the Ancient Geo-
graphy of America.
The local customs of the Baillage
of Amiens.
A Guide to Northern Archaeolo-
gy, translated by his Lordship.
NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 27
Dr. Lee, CEdes Hartwellianse. A Descrip-
tion of Hartwell House. By
Capt. Smyth, R.N.
Mr. C. R. Smith, Collectanea Antiqua. Conclud-
ing parts of vol. ii
Mr. Haggard, Catalogue of the Library of the
Bank of England.
Mr. Wills, A work by J. Millan, containing
an Account of the Coins,
Weights, and Measures of all
Nations .
Rev. E. H. Shepherd, "> Woodcuts of unpublished Coins
Mr. Nealds, j of Baldred, king of Kent ; in
their respective cabinets.
Mr. Bergne, Woodcut of an unpublished Penny
of William the Conqueror.
Mr. C. R. Smith, Ditto of an unpublished Coin of
Carausius, with full face,
In conclusion, the Council will merely add, that they have heard
with much pleasure that a great desideratum in English Medallic
History is about to be supplied, by the pubh'cation of the first
volume of a Catalogue of English Medals, by Mr. Hawkins, which
will comprise the series down to the reign of William III.
The Report was received and ordered to be printed.
The Society then proceeded to ballot for the Officers and Council
for the ensuing year. The ballot-boxes having been closed, and
delivered to Mr. Chaffers and Mr. Faulkner, the Scrutineers, they
reported that the election had fallen upon the following gentle-
men :
As President.
THE LORD LONDKSBOROUGH, K.C.H., F.R.S., F.S.A.
As Vice Presidents.
EDWARD HAWKINS, ESQ., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.L.S.
HORACE HAYMAN WILSON, ESQ., F.R.S., F.R.A.S., BodenProfessor
of Sanscrit.
28 PROCEEDINGS OF THE
As Treasurer.
JOHN BRODRIBB BBRGNB, ESQ., F.S.A.
As Secretaries.
JAMES COVE JONES, ESQ., F.S.A.
WILLIAM SANDYS WRIGHT VAUX, ESQ., F.S.A.
As Foreign Secretary.
JOHN YONGE AKERMAN, ESQ., F.S.A.
As Librarian.
JOHN WILLIAMS, ESQ.,
As Members of the Council.
JOHN EVANS, ESQ.
FREDERICK W. FAIRHOLT, ESQ., F.S.A.
WILLIAM DEBONAIRE HAGGARD, ESQ., F.S.A., F.R.A.S.
JOHN LEE, ESQ., LLD., F.R.S., F.S.A., F.R.A.S.
SIR GEORGE MUSGRAVE, BART., F.S.A.
JONATHAN RASHLEIGH, ESQ.
THE REV. J. B. READE, M.A., F.R.S.
WILLIAM DEVONSHIRE SAULL, ESQ., F.S.A.
CHARLES STOKES, ESQ.
EDWARD THOMAS, ESQ.
HENRY LAYCOCK TOVEY, ESQ.
WILLIAM WANSEY, ESQ., F.S.A.
The Society then adjourned to Thursday, the 25th November.
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
i.
ANSWER TO REMARKS BY JOHN EVANS, ESQ., ON
"THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, AND OF THE
ANCIENT BRITONS."
As I am favoured with an opportunity of replying to the
strictures on the above work, part of which has appeared in
the form of separate papers in the Journal of the British
Archaeological Association, and part otherwise, and which
is intended for further publication in a separate volume, I
shall proceed to do so with all possible brevity, not to tres-
pass unnecessarily on the pages of the valuable periodical
in which this indulgence is allowed me, or needlessly to
occupy the time of its readers.
The gentleman from whom the remarks proceed, I am
necessitated to observe, by no means expresses himself with
a candid spirit of inquiry. He frequently makes objections
which merely are so because he leaves something behind un-
noticed, and does not always set forth correctly and fully
the points he proposes to answer, but evinces a certain
degree of misrepresentation ; instances of which will be seen
VOL. xv. B
2 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
presently. It is much to be regretted, indeed, that he
should come forward at all to contest matters which, by
progressive development, are become so clear, since he
writes somewhat too late in the day, and too much at
variance with one or two conclusive facts, which are now
come to light, for any real case in favour of his views to
exist.
Part and parcel of his other misstatements, is the slur
which he attempts to cast on the engravings of the work,
which is perfectly unwarrantable, as they are all executed
by a very skilful artist, who is answerable for them, and are
not exceeded in correctness in numismatic points by any
work which has appeared. In the instance he specifically
mentions, his mistake on this head will be shown ; and had
he mentioned more, his errors might have been shewn to a
greater extent.
Before answering his various criticisms, I feel it due to
refer to the principles on which my explanations of ancient
British coins are based ; a new system I may call it, though
properly speaking, no other ought ever to have existed,
which, had it been the case, numerous errors so commonly
entertained on the subject would have been avoided.
To set forth the new system, I must first state what its
predecessor has been. Here I must beg not to be miscon-
strued in the remarks which it will be necessary for me to
make, as I am far from meaning any disparagement to
other numismatists of the present time who have treated of
British coins, but wish to draw their attention to the defects
of that certainly very peculiar path of inquiry which they
have hitherto almost exclusively pursued, and which defects
it may be useful to point out. There is no preceptor, it
must be allowed, like experience. If the old system is not
efficacious in producing practical results should it not be
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 3
relinquished, and a more rational method adopted? Where
is the utility of pertinaciously adhering to a system which it
may be shewn is neither favourable to the consistent expla-
nation of the more obscure points of the British coinage,
nor to classification ? The following may be given as its
leading principles, which are too obviously found in various
publications to need particular reference.
According, then, to the old system of explaining British
coins, which has been alluded to, ancient Britain was con-
sidered, during the coining period, pretty much in the light
of a province under the influence of the Romans ; and, with
the views now spoken of, it almost seems supposed that the
Roman tax-gatherers were stationed at various places in
the country to collect the tribute ; and especially that part
of the island nearest Gaul, the state of the Belgae was
deemed to have been under their control. In conformity
with this alleged position of affairs, the coinage of the
ancient Britons, of which I now come to speak, was re-
garded as a servile imitation of that of Rome ; the better
specimens struck by the Roman coiners in Britain, in the
employment of the British rulers, who left these artists
unrestrained to strike what types, and inscribe what legends
they pleased, whilst the inferior specimens were considered
as struck by native artists, who inserted for legends letters
and words nearly at hazard ; indeed, instances might be
adduced where, under this system, a legend on a British
coin, not understood, has been interpreted to mean abso-
lutely nothing.
Together with this, the geographical divisions of the
various states as usually understood from Ptolemy and
other ancient sources, and as received in their general
features by Camden, Horsley, and others, are in a great
measure disregarded; and as to chronology no just distinc-
4 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
tion is always observed between the times of Caesar and
those of Claudius, as relating to British affairs.
The foregoing are the leading characteristics of what
may be described as the old system, erroneous enough, but
adopted very generally at the present day. In lieu of this,
I have brought forward, in my work on British coins, a very
different one, which I submit is far preferable to adopt.
There is in reality no foundation to suppose the Romans
had domination in the island during the coining period. On
the contrary, Strabo, who wrote in the reign of Augustus,
expressly informs us that the Romans in his time had no
garrisons in the island, and had given up the tribute, and
only levied custom-house duties in their ports in Gaul on
goods conveyed to and from Britain. Where then would
be the inducement for British kings to Romanise altogether
in their coinage, and to relinquish their own national ideas?
And wliere is the probability that they would not direct the
Roman artists they employed as to the form of their
legends, and what they wished represented on their coins ?
Indeed, that they left them wholly to follow their own views
in introducing Latin legends on British coins is a manifest
absurdity, as the occurrence of no Latin word can be
proved on them ; the title REX, which some of them exhibit,
being also a Celtic word. In a different case this same
word REX, on a coin of Juba II., the Numidian king, or in
some similar instance, may be a proof of a coinage servilely
following that of Rome, where it may be inferred that the
word had no existence in the language of the country ; but
in the British coinage in which it had, the same inference is
not deducible.
Latin inflexions, it is true, occur on British coins, which
have indubitably proved very deceptive to many numis-
matists, and induced them erroneously to think that they
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 5
had to do with quasi-Roman coins. The state of the
case seems to have been, that the ancient Celtic, like
most other languages of antiquity, was not without its full
share of inflexions and varied terminations. We find
traces of these being Grecised in portions of the Gaulish
coinage obviously resulting from communications of the
Gauls with the Greeks ; and the difference is, that in Cuno-
beline's coins we find these terminations Latinised, appa-
rently originating from that monarch's attachment to Rome.
Too much stress should not be laid on this. A Celtic word
should riot be considered as having become Latin from
having its termination Latinised, any more than it should
be regarded as having become Greek when the Greek form
is applied in the same way.
It has seemed to me most consistent to view the British
coinage as having its own proper nationality; to regard
the Britons as not forgetting that they were Celts; and
to suppose that though they adopted various Roman types,
yet that they rather followed, as a general pattern, the
coinage of their brother Celts of Gaul, as to the letter
and spirit of it. This I denominate the new system
for the explanation of British coins ; and it is what I have
advocated in my various researches, as most successful
in solving the difficulties with which the study of them is
involved.
From a comparison of the two systems, I deduce the two
following propositions. First, that ancient British coins
cannot be explained correctly to any extent by the old
system ; and, secondly, that they may be so by the new
system here proposed.
It may seem strange, that a system so unwarranted by
fact as the old one should have ever predominated, and that
that other, to which I have adverted, should have ever been
6 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
neglected ; yet so it is, and the result of adopting the new
system is the discovery of the true key for explaining the
ancient moneys of our island.
Let us enquire what have been the results of the old
system ? As might have been expected, rather unpropitious,
Take, for instance, the theory which has lately been brought
forward at various times, the supposed servile following by
the Britons of certain types of Augustus and Tiberius, in
which an hereditary descent from Julius Caesar was ex-
pressed. This theory has been extended to many of the
ancient moneys of the island ; and it has been presumed,
that a genealogical descent is to be found on them too. For
instance, in respect to Cunobeline, the ruler, as it may be
said advisedly, over a large portion of the Belgian Gauls,
or Firbolgi, in Britain, his coins reading CVNOBELINI
TASCIOVANI. F. implying Cunobeline, leader of the Fir-
bolgi, have been interpreted, Cunobeline, son of Tasci-
ovanus. I will not stop to inquire how this explanation
corresponded, particularly when the coins of the Hon. Mr.
Neville, and Mr. Wigan were discovered reading notfilius,
but FIR : but when the same principle was transferred
to the explanation of the coins of the southern Belgae of
Britain, the Belgae of Ptolemy, who will not be disputed, I
presume to have been really Firbolgi; nothing but utter
confusion of chronology took place in supposing Vericus
the son of the Comius of Caesar, when there is the interval
of ninety-four years between the mention of the one and
the other in history : and it has ended also in a confusion of
every just principle, in supposing if Vericus were the son of
Comius, that it would be a circumstance to be inserted on a
Celtic coin, after such a lapse of time, or, indeed, at all, as
we are not informed that Comius was deified like Julius
Caesar, or was otherwise a person so important to the
THE COINS OF CUNOBEUNE, ETC. 7
Britons as that commander was to the Romans. To make
the matter the worse, this theory, as applied to the Britons
of this quarter, supposes four of the southern Belgian
princes in Britain, all in fact considered known, in the
same predicament, all sons of Comius, and desirous amidst
their cares of state to perpetuate their father's name on
their moneys, though deceased, as to some of them certainly,
so long before.
Again, what have been the results as to classification ?
Amidst an unexampled number of new types, which have
been found of late years, the progress is very trifling. The
types have been too much misunderstood, under the old
system, to admit readily of arrangement. Little, indeed,
has been attempted, and the writer of the remarks himself,
if he wishes for classification in his researches on British
coins must necessarily adopt one based upon and formed
under the new system I have described ; for it is pretty
certain that he can have no extended classification by
the old.
Under the new system, classification in considerable
detail is attainable ; and, in proof of the assertion, I may be
perhaps excused in referring to Parts VII. VIII. X. XII.
XIII. XV., and to several other subsequent ones,, of
the coins of Cunobeline, etc., applying to the Brigantes,
Iceni, etc., besides the types properly belonging to Cuno-
beline, which are treated of in other places of it ; and the
coins of this monarch are generally very distinct from those
assignable to other British princes.
The foregoing statements appear fully to justify me from
the censures of the writer of the remarks as to the general
principles of my interpretation of ancient British coins ;
and they are statements which otherwise seem duly required
to be brought forward to shew the inutility of researches on
8 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
the basis of the former defective system to which I have
alluded. Could anything have been effected with the un-
promising materials which it supplies, the various able nu-
mismatists who have endeavoured from time to time to
arrange the British coinage, and explain its difficulties,
would have had more complete success ; but from the
hitherto slow advance made in the illustrations of these our
ancient moneys, it is certainly an inducement to embrace the
new system proposed, which offers a more practicable
classification than otherwise attainable, and definite and
consistent explanations as well.
I shall now advert to the criticisms and points of attack
selected by the author of the remarks, in which he appears
to shew but little judgment. All his observations, indeed,
bear evident marks of having been drawn up in extreme
haste, and with such a defective selection of topics, that
when his misconceptions are set right he is generally suffi-
ciently refuted, by the proper answer to, and the clearing up
of, his own objections. However, though vindicating my
views on the subject of British coins, thus questioned,
I must at the same time specify, with respect to my
own researches, that I have seen occasion for alterations
on a few points among the numerous topics discussed. It
is now more than five years since the first of these papers
was printed, and the discoveries of British coins have been
extremely numerous since, and have given some unexpected
results. Several numismatic features have thus appeared
in new lights, and hence the indulgence has been claimed
and exercised, of rectifying and even entirely changing
from time to time, a few explanations which have been
most of them very subordinate. This is an indulgence
which of course must be conceded to all writers on these
topics ; and the writer of the remarks may make what use
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 9
he pleases of this avowal. However, to continue, I will
now examine some of his principal objections.
First, to give a specimen of what we may charitably
suppose was a result of the precipitation to which I have just
alluded, he says (Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. XIV., p. 140),
that I interpret the name Timancius, on the Angora inscrip-
tion, merely from the three first letters, whereas he omits
to say that there is a corroboration in the ancient British
Chronicles, from the occurrence of the name of Cunobeline's
father in several very closely approximating forms (see
pp. 11, 58,62, 75, and 197, of the Coins of Cunobeline, etc.)
where several variations of the name are mentioned, as
Teneuvan, Tenuantius, Theomantius, Themantius and Te-
mancius, the last being given by Henry of Huntingdon, in his
De Origine, and by Fabian. This makes the interpreta-*
tion of the three letters quite a different thing.
Now, had the writer of the remarks stated the above,
and various other corroborative circumstances referred to
in my pages, he would have so completely refuted himself
as to have left me nothing to add. For instance, it was a
British king that was meant by the name in the inscription,
and the time of the British disputes with Rome, as men-
tioned by Strabo, when the alleged submission of the
British kings to Augustus appears to have been made,
would have agreed exactly with the date of Cunobeline's
father Timancius. Observe, besides, that his name, if ex-
pressed on the inscription, as it probably was, TIM (AN),
for the Celtic Timandh, would only have consisted of five
letters, of which we have three.
The next passage of his remarks I may allude to, is that
(Numismatic Chronicle, p. 129) where he expresses his
opinion, that if TASCIO be a title, it is hardly compatible
that it should appear on the same coin as REX. In answer,
VOL XV. c
10 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
I at one time entertained a similar doubt myself, (see
the Coins of Cunobeline, etc. p. 15, and Journal of
the British Archaeological Association for 1845, p. 235);
but, from a comparison of British types since, I now think
the title as answering to the Latin imperator, solely
applied to the commander of the military forces, and not to
the political ruler of a kingdom, and consequently that
there is no inconsistency in the occurrence of the two on a
coin. This is fully confirmed by the circumstance that the
title tascio, under the form tagos, was in use in Thessaly,
and that we find an instance mentioned by Herodotus, v. 63,
in which the tagos had the title of Bao-tXeu?, which is the
same as rex. Here appears to be sufficient numismatic
correspondency, as also is explained in my page 202, with the
legend on Cunobeline's coin, CVNOBELINVS REX. TASC.
(see Ruding's Annals of the Coinage, plate v. 19).
The writer of the remarks inquires why TASCIO, if a title,
should occur as a sole legend on coins, as it sometimes
does. In answer, it may be observed, however foreign this
custom may be to modern ideas, the same form seems to
have prevailed in the cognate coinage of Gaul, where we
have names inscribed as (VERC)INGETORIXS, EPILOS.,
etc., for sole legends which we may regard as titular.
Among the Celts, titular designations seem to have passed
more as quasi-personal names than we can trace to have
been the custom in other countries. We should then, per-
haps, see no more in TASCIO^ as a sole legend, than Cuno-
beline's predilection for this titular distinction ; and admit-
ting that his coinage was the first that was inscribed in
Britain, no confusion would arise from adopting the mode.
Another objection of the writer of the remarks is (Nu-
mismatic Chronicle, p. 137) in reference to moneys assigned
to Caractacus, that the K on the coin, reading in Greek
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 11
letters KEPATI (KERATI), is not a letter, but merely the
tying of the lion's skin round the neck of the wearer. That,
however, it is considered a letter, very good authority may
be referred to (see the Numismatic Chronicle, for July,
1849, p. 93,) where the reading is pronounced to be very
plainly MEPATI) see also the Archaeologia for 1850, vol.
XXXIII. p. 182, as also Mr. Tupper's Farley Heath,
18mo. 1850, p. 19). It is true, that in all those places this
letter is read as an M, which seems more properly a K, but
that the writer of the remarks should, in opposition to
these authorities, pronounce it no letter at all, may excite
surprise.
But he further objects to Greek letters being used in the
legends of the coins of Caractacus, though he admits that
they occur on some of the types of Cunobeline, as indeed
we find in the Numismatic Journal, vol. I., p. 222, and in
the Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. VII., p. 83. He appears
not to be aware that Greek characters were almost in pro-
miscuous use in the cognate coinage of Gaul. Likewise he
omits to notice that there is authority for the orthography
of the name of the British hero as Caratacus, rather than
as Caractacus, which makes a near approach to the
KERATI(K) of our coins, as well as to the form CEARATIC
in common letters, which Camden appears to have met
with. Further, he forgets that the war which prevailed with
the Romans at the time may have given a degree of
currency to Greek legends, so as to have brought them
into occasional use at least : and, besides that, these coins
were copies of Greek types in which the Greek language
was of course adopted.
Against the assignation of the coins CORI, CATTI,
QVANGE9, as in the Coins of Cunobeline, etc. pp. 38, and
119, the writer of the remarks also directs his shafts (Nu-
12 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
mismatic Chronicle, p. 139), principally attacking the read-
ing of Mr. Beesley's type, QVANGE6, which is supposed
to apply to the Cangi, one of the states of ancient Britain.
But the lettering of that type, as also the whole coin, is in
an unexampled fine state of preservation, equal to its state
and condition when first struck, whereas the British Mu-
seum specimen, cited by the writer of the remarks, has
suffered greatly from attrition, and much of the letters has
disappeared. The Bodleian specimen, which he also quotes,
is, according to Wise's Bodleian Catalogue, fol. 1750,
plate xvi. 3., much in the same state, and if perfectly
legible and well preserved legends are to be altered at
caprice from legends of coins in a state of great decay and
obliteration, there is an end, in that case, of all certainty in
numismatic inquiries.
He has made an objection, however, arising from this
incorrect method of proceeding, and it must be attended to
In result of conclusions so obtained, he calls the reading
QVANGE9,, " a fine specimen of the effect of a vivid imagi-
nation/' Now it so happened, that when the coin was
exhibited by the proprietor at a meeting of the Numismatic
Society, the 22nd December, 1842, the reading it received
was very similar, and here, perhaps, I may be excused for
going into details to shew some points connected with the
subject, and which, indeed, are necessary to explain it
properly.
We may find then this inscription given in the Pro-
ceedings of the Numismatic Society for 1842, p. 88, as
OVANTE0. A communication, however, in the Gentle-
man's Magazine, for July, 1843, p. 39, from a correspon-
dent at Northampton (Mr. Pretty), incidentally notices the
reading of the first letter as a Q, and that this was rather
obviously the case the report of the meeting in the same
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 13
periodical, for January, 1843, p. 78, materially confirms,
where we find it given as QVANTEO. Indeed, what ap-
pears to be the cedilla of the Q, is very clear on Mr.
Beesley's type, as also on the Museum specimen. As
OVANTEO, QVANTE0 or QVANTEO, then, the reading
would have continued current, and my variation consists only
in reading the fifth letter not as a T, but as a G (see Coins
of Cunobeline, etc., p. 38), it having the form of an in-
verted L, the orthography of the word being in fact not
QVANTE6, but QVANFEe, and a G in that form often
occurs on Gaulish coins, and the Gaulish coinage should be,
in many respects, a guidance for the British. Let the reader
then judge what becomes of his remark of a "vivid
imagination," etc ? I need only add, that nothing more is
required for a person to be perfectly convinced of the
actual lettering of the coin, than to see the well-preserved
specimen to which I have alluded. The Q and the F are very
plain. Whether they are to be read as an O and a T is a
matter of numismatic option and selection. In neither case
will my classification of the coins CATTI, CORI, etc. be de-
trimented, for, if the legend be read, not as I have proposed,
but OVANTEe, then it may be easily comprehended, that
from the rim being imperfect, which is the case in this spe-
cimen, the preceding letters may have been removed, and the
whole inscription, originally, have been as suggested by the
Marquis De Lagoy (see Coins of Cunobeline, etc. p. 122),
(TRIN)OVANTEG, that is as applying to the Trincbantes,
who, we know were a powerful state of ancient Britain.
As, then, an error in assigning a subordinate type will not
affect the class, admitting that there is an error, which is
not shown, it is justifiable to assert, that the writer of the
remarks has not set aside the general assignment of these
types, and as, in other instances, he is ot able to bring
14 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
forward other coins than those I have suggested as applying
to the sons of Cunobeline, or than those assigned to the
Iceni, Brigantes, etc., or to negative the reasons on which
such several appropriations are founded, I am warranted in
supposing that the various classifications in my work may
be worthy of confidence.
The class in question, which has been the subject of the
foregoing remarks, and which is composed of coins bearing
the legends CATTI, QVANGETH, BODVOC, ATT, CORI
and COMVX, I have assigned as ancient British provincial
coins, or quasi-provincial coins, as I find on them the names
of ancient British provinces, states, and communities, and
nothing else. They were not classified previously ; and it.
is open to any one to give them a name which will better
describe them.
Of a piece with several other similar passages in his
observations, are his flourishes on one or two occasions re-
specting theorising, of which it is difficult to see the utility,
as he can only properly assume what heproves on that
point, of which he appears to have no cause to boast.
Respecting, however, what he is pleased to style theoris-
ing, various conclusions may seem strange to him from his
not having taken the pains to trace the intermediate steps.
Let the writer of the remarks adopt the system here pro-
posed to him, as also the classification of the various coins
which has been submitted, and it may be, perhaps, safely
asserted, that he will find but few of the explanations pro-
posed but what are sufficiently methodical.
In the same style are remarks regarding imagination, in
the engraving of Mr. Wigan's coin with its legend. I have
alluded to the engravings before, and the artist, in this in-
stance, is perfectly accurate in representing the inscription
with a concluding R, and the wild boar of the device feeding
THE COINS OF CUNOBEL1NE, ETC. 15
on a plant, and not with a serpent in its mouth,, as the coin
has sometimes been delineated. So far from overcharging, he
has, on the contrary, not expressed, in the facsimile of the
legend of Mr. Neville's coin, the final R, so completely and
perfectly formed as it in reality exists. By what inad-
vertence, or haste, the correct readings were overlooked by
those who first engraved these types, seems a mystery.
The defect, however, is now remedied, for the benefit of
numismatic science, and it may be, perhaps, allowable for
me to refer to the opinions of those who are well qualified
to judge in the matter, and which are so much to the point.
The reading FIR, on both coins, was fully admitted and ac-
knowledged by Mr. C. Roach Smith, and Mr. Fairholt, who
certainly, in the first instance, were rather prepossessed
with opposite views. It was likewise similarly received by
Mr. Cuff, and by Dr. Plomley, of Maidstone. The FIR on
Mr. Wigan's coin, was from the first reading of the owner
of it, and of Mr. Cureton, and of the Rev. J. E. Shepherd,
of Luddesdown, near Rochester, a gentleman well known
as a numismatist. Thus, then, the reading stands confessed
on the two coins, TASC. FIR. and being there it may be
asked what undue flight of imagination has been exercised
in either of the two instances ?
Respecting the reading of the third coin VREIS. R., for
there are three now which more particularly illustrate some
of the obscurer parts of the ancient British coinage ; the
writer of the remarks points it wrongly. There is no period
after the VRE on the coin, but there is one between the S
and the R, though it is accidentally omitted in the engrav-
ing, as given in the Coins of Cunobeline, etc., p. 209, and
in the Journal of the Arch. Assoc. for 1851, p. 27. This is
very material in the reading of the legend, for, unless the
16 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
pointing be duly observed, we cannot obtain the form
VRE1S. R. which seems to be the real legend of the obverse.
Here, it may be observed by the way, that the word
VREIS, interpreted as the name of the king of the Iceni,
mentioned by Tacitus, strongly reminds one of the Cam-
brian name Rhys, of the Middle Ages, with which indeed it
probably was identical : and it may be added, that it is the
TASCI of the reverse of this type, part of the word TASCIO,
which affords such clear numismatic evidence on points
under present discussion.
The writer of the remarks, however, attempts to raise
some doubts as to the genuineness of this coin, which, as
the proprietor, who has now had it in his possession for
many months, never knew that any existed till he saw the
remarks in print, need not be considered very serious. Let
it briefly be observed, as to any doubts of it, that this type
being of a different coinage of ancient Britain from the
Cunobeline series, its variations in its details from the types
of that monarch, are actually rather indications of genuine-
ness than proofs to the contrary.
The writer of the remarks is a strong advocate for inter-
preting the TASC. F. and even the TASC. FIR. of British
coins, to which I have alluded before, and which reading he
appears virtually to admit, as TASCIOVANI FILIVS.
Arguing from the French words apdtre, derived from apos-
tolus, and epitre, derived from epistola, he thinks that FIR
may be a barbarous contraction for filius. In answer to
this, it may be observed, that Mr. Wigan's type, which has
the legend FIR. being one of the best executed of those of
Cunobeline, was probably produced by a Roman artist in
Cunobeline's employment ; and the reading is supported by
Mr. Neville's type, which is from a different die. This
THE COINS OP CUNOBELINE, ETC. 17
appears to be decisive ; and thus,, with the evidence of
TASC. FIR. being of actual occurrence on the two coins,
and VREIS. R. TASCI. on Mr. C. Roach Smith's recent
specimen, which, as being accompanied by the symbol of
the Iceni, shews no reference was intended to the family of
Cunobeline, I am at loss to see the utility of controverting
points which are so clear.
The FIR of the two legends, I have observed before, is to
be interpreted FIR(BOLG), which interpretation is also to
be applied to the letter F where it singly occurs on British
coins. Regarding the objection that FIRB. would have
been the contraction for FIRBOLG, and not FIR. for that
FIR takes in no portion of the generic name Belgae, and
that FIR only signifies men, the due reply seems to be, that
from the name having been in use for many centuries, the
two parts of it may have become altogether amalgamated,
and passed for one word, so that the three first letters, or
even the commencing letter, may have been sufficient for a
reference to it.
Respecting, however, this topic of the Firbolgi, the in-
vaders of Ireland, it may be required to mention some
authorities, to shew that they were actually the same race
as the Belgee of Britain. I may accordingly direct atten-
tion to the following: (1.) O'Brien's Irish Dictionary, 8vo.
1832, at the word "Bolg," where this opinion is very deci-
dedly expressed. (2.) O' Flaherty's Ogygia, 4to. 1685,
part i. p. 14, and part ii. p. 73, likewise fully concurring.
(3.) Keating's History of Ireland, fol. 1723, pp. 14 and 40,
asserting the same thing. (4.) Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hi-
bernicarum Scriptores, 4to. 1814 1826, vol. i., Prolego-
mena, p. 60, vol. ii. pp. 29, 160, vol. iii. pp, 6, 10, 20, 29,
to the same effect ; and, lastly, (5.) the Book of Lecan, a
volume of Irish Annals in Erse, fol. 283, as quoted by
VOL. XV. D
18 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Keating, p. 14, which states the language spoken by the
Firbolgi to have been called " Belgaid."*
The name Firbolg, for Belgae, has only been found as
yet, it is believed, in Irish writers. It is a pure Celtic
word, and it was the sooner merged because the latter
appellation, Belgae, seems to have superseded the first.
They appear, indeed, even to have been sometimes called
Belgae, by ancient Irish writers themselves (see Dr.
O'Conor's work, vol. ii. pp. 29 and 160). The name Firbolgi
appears to have been lost in the general name of Britons,
long before the date of the earliest Welch literature now
extant; and it is noticeable that there is but a rare oc-
currence of even the name Belgae in the chronicles or other
similar ancient sources.
I may now advert to the supposed conquests of the
Belgae or Firbolgi, north of the Thames, in the reality of
which the writer of the remarks does not seem inclined to
concur. Here I may remind him, that even M. Thierry,
the author of the History of the Norman Conquest, men-
tions the conquests of the Coranians or Coritani, a tribe of
foreigners from the Continent, of parts of Britain, south of
* A proof, likewise, of the identity of the Firbolgi and Belgse,
is derivable from the Historia Britonum, of Nennius, in which
we are informed that the Firbolgi captured the isle of Man, an
event which, according to the writers of Ireland, seems to be
placed after their expulsion from that country.
The common editions of Nennius say, "Builc (Bolg.) autem
cum suis tenuit Euboniam : " but the Dublin edition of Nennius,
from Erse manuscripts, 4to. 1847, p. 48, has, in the correspond-
ing place, " Fir bolg imorro ro gabsat Manaind," which informs
us that it was the Firbolgi who possessed themselves of the
island. This correction places us in possession of a fact, and
makes the common text intelligible, which was not so before.
THE COINS OF CUNOBSLINE, ETC. 19
the Humber. These Coranians may be regarded as one of
the tribes of the Firbolgi, who passed over to the island.
These appear to have been the invaders mentioned in
Tysilio's Chronicle; and, it is believed, not otherwise re-
corded in the other chronicles, who are described as such
objects of apprehension to the other Britons of the day
(see Robert's Tysilio, 4to. 1811, p. 67).
It is true, that Ptolemy only mentions the Belgae or
Firbolgi in Britain, south of the Thames, the reason ap-
parently being, that in his time, about the year 150, of
the Christian era, only the name of the last colony, or
invasion under Divitiacus remained, which it is believed
that it did down to Anglo-Saxon times. Ptolemy, however,
gives us the situation of the Catieuchlani, or Cassii, north
of the Thames, which, as corresponding so nearly with
with the name of the Catti of the continent, we may pro-
nounce, on Caesar's authority (see his Gaulish Wars,
v. 12), as a proof of Belgic origin. Further, when the Irish
writers to whom I have given reference, infer that the
people named Firbolgi, mentioned by their ancient an-
nalists, must have come from Britain ; and when we may
understand that they made an expedition in sufficient force
partially to conquer Ireland, and to establish there a
dynasty of their kings, which continued, according to some,
fifty-six, according to others, eighty years, joined with the
credence to be given that the Coranians or Coritani, above
spoken of were Belgae, can it be believed but that the
Firbolgi possessed the principal part of Britain south of
the Hurnber, and, consequently to the north of the Thames,
as well as to the south of it ?
Besides the above objections made by the writer of the
remarks, he urges some minor ones, which I will proceed
to answer as concisely as possible.
20 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
It is objected, for instance, that if the word TASCIOVA-
NVS were a title it would be on the obverse, on the same
side as the head. But the writer of the remarks must
remember that we have a Celtic coinage to deal with ; and
that from British coins being of much smaller size than
those of the Roman imperial series, it may be a reason for
a different distribution of the legend.
It is again objected, that the name VERICVS is properly
VERICAS ; the first form, however, seems preferable, and
agrees with the Bericos of Dion Cassius. The A may
possibly be a V inverted on the type, which has VERICAS,
as it has no bar. Further, in remarking on the probable
derivation of this titular name, the writer (Numismatic
Chronicle, p. 135) mistakes the import of the word VER.
He might learn it from Venantius Fortunatus, in which
author it is translated " great " (see Coins of Cunobeline,
etc., p. 198.)
One observation made by the writer, requires due atten-
tion (Numismatic Chronicle, p. 129), namely, that TASCI-
OVANVS, the supposed Latinized form of TASCIO, has
two additional syllables more than the original word. In
answer to this, TASCIOVANVS may be a Latinisation of a
fuller form of the title TASCIO, which might have existed
in the ancient Celtic ; or, otherwise, to TASCIO the root,
some other word may have been added, signifying high,
principal, or the like, and the whole Latinized ; but if so,
I am unable to point out what that word has been.
I must here also note the error that it is supposed (Nu-
mismatic Chronicle, p. 128), that I regard the tascio of the
Britons, as translated by the Latin word imperator, to
mean emperor. No such idea is intended. Imperator, as
the translation of tascio, must only be taken in its more
limited sense of leader, or commander, which, indeed, was
THE COINS OF CUNOBELINE, ETC. 21
its original and proper sense, till applied to the head of the
Roman empire.
The writer of the remarks also wrongly supposes (Nu-
mismatic Chronicle, p. 138) that I have assigned any coin,
recently found, to Boadicea. And as to his doubt of an
additional letter to the legend CORI, it seems, from extant
specimens, to be more correctly a monetary mark, and not
a letter.
As to the word COMMI(OS) which occurs on British and
Gaulish coins, and on the latter at full length, the meaning
of it appears to be community, district, or confederacy,
small or great; and in reference to the objection at p. 136
of the Numismatic Chronicle, which is not very definite,
relating to its signification and use, it would have been
applicable to any particular state of the Belgic confederacy ;
or to the same collectively, or, in fact, to any other com-
munity of ancient Britain who might assume it.
In concluding, I would beg to be allowed to make the
observation, that I consider that the readings TASCIO
FIRBOLG, and COMM1OS FIRBOLG, together with the
due and proper classification of the various types which is
facilitated by these readings, and, indeed, solety rendered
compatible constitute the true key for unlocking the diffi-
culties of ancient British coins ; and I venture to recom-
mend my solution, not only to the writer of the remarks,
whose principal objections I may now, perhaps, have suc-
ceeded in removing, but to every numismatist who takes up
the study of the subject, hoping that all rivalry may be laid
aside, and no feelings exist but those of a cordial emulation.
I must also, in particular, reciprocate my avowal of the
same amicable intentions as are expressed by the writer of
the remarks.
BEALE POSTE.
22 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE,
II.
ON THE GREEK LEGENDS OF THE COINS OF THE
INDO-SCYTHIAN PRINCES OF CABUL.
BY H. TORRENS, ESQ.
(Late Secretary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal.)
A VERY interesting article on the Greek legends of the
coins of the Indo-Scythian princes of Cabul, has recently
appeared in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,
No. CCXIX, and as it is probably known to but few
European readers, we do not scruple to avail ourselves of a
portion of the author's remarks on a branch of ancient
numismatics, at present but imperfectly understood, and,
we fear, but little studied in England.
6 ' The time now appears to me," says Mr. Torrens, " to
be propitious for the resumption of the study of the history
of Ancient Bactria, not simply as regards herself, but in
her connection with India ; and more particularly as re-
spects later dynasties of Barbaric princes, the Indo-
Parthians,, the Indo-Scythian, and Sassanian monarchs,
satraps, or prefects, who held sway, independently, or as
tributaries to a greater power, in portions of the dismem-
bered kingdom of the Bactrian Greeks. Provinces, some
of which constituted component parts of these principalities,
are now the frontier of the British Empire in the East;
tranquillity and good government have succeeded the
anarchy which so lately dislocated their whole system;
arnid the arts of peace, the local history of those lands
through which successive races of mankind have, from the
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 23
remotest ages of the world, poured themselves into the
Indian Peninsula, should most certainly be diligently inves-
tigated. The study should not simply be encouraged, it
should be enjoined, and public measures taken, such as
would be adopted by any other European Government
placed in India as is that of England, to facilitate and pro-
mote enquiry as upon a question of science. It is not
enough that, from the little we do know, something should
have been deduced, and systematically put on record. The
next step is to have the deduction critically examined, and
tested by local investigation ; if it still then hold good, we
may either accept it as material for history, or at any rate
allow it to pass current pending the appearance of further
light. There is a world of work to be done along the
simple frontier of Peshawur (v. Court's Conjectures on the
March of Alexander, Journal Asiatic Society, Bengal, July,
1836), while the whole Punjab is a rich and almost untried
field for the antiquarian and numismatologist. The idea
must never be entertained that where there is darkness or
apparent mystery, discovery is hopeless.
" It will be in the recollection of some of the readers of
the Journal that much interest was excited by the appear-
ance, on certain of the coins of the Arian dynasties subse-
quent to the Greeks, of pure Greek words, and, sometimes,
of Greek barbarised even to unintelligibility, in conjunction
with the title of a Parthian or a Scythian prince. The im-
mediate query in the mind of a philologist was, does this
indicate the existence of a Graeco-Barbaric vernacular
language ? Aristophanes introduces in ' The Birds ' a
specimen of such a dialect, which, no doubt, like the Car-
thaginian of Plautus's ' Slaves/ amused a classic audience
as much as Pat or Sawney do an English one. The few
words the barbarian of Aristophanes utters, are chiefly bad
Greek, which, if the conclusion be worth any thing, based
24 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
on so small a fact, would lead one to infer that Greek, in
these dialects, was predominant; and that, supposing
we find an instance of one, the more Greek we can detect
in it, the greater the likelihood that it constituted, not a sort
of royal or medal language, but the actual vernacular of
the particular people who made use of it. The thoughts
involuntarily wander to the mountains of Kafiristan, that
mysterious country, the Opprobrium Geographic Anglic <Z,
with its peculiar inhabitants, the self-declared descendants
of Alexander's soldiers, who speak, say all informants, a
peculiar and unintelligible language. This race of men, be
they what they may, have certainly taken refuge from the
overflowing tide of immigration in inaccessible haunts,
where to this hour they exist, rarely, if ever, quitting their
own limits. The Parthian, the Scythian, and the Sassanian,
the endless tribes whom the Hindoos and Persians term
Saka, and the Greeks ^fcvdat (v. Wilson, Ar. Ant. c. iii.
p. 132, 4to. ed.) have swept from the more accessible tracts
of the lands they each in their turn sojourned in upon their
way to India, the language and the race of their prede-
cessors, after a partial adoption of the one, and an imperfect
subjection of the other. It remains yet to be seen whether,
safely removed from the highway of nations, the descend-
ants of those who were, for a time, tinctured with the tastes
of the most civilised people of antiquity, may not be found
extant, still perhaps retaining traces of the European stock
they came of (v. Elphinstone's Cabul, also this Journal,
April, 1838, on the Siah-posh Cafirs by Burnes). It will,
perhaps, not be uninteresting, before I proceed to a further
identification than has yet been attempted of the Greak
language as the adopted tongue of barbaric princes
dominant in Bactria, to make, as it were, a vocabulary of
the Greek words in use upon their coins. These, it will be
seen, are partly imitations, and adoptions of titles and
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 25
attributive epithets in use with their predecessors, the
Greek Bactrian monarchs; and, partly, which is very
curious, verbal applications of their own, sometimes in pure
Greek ; occasionally, as I shall show, in words misused and
mis-spelled; and sometimes, in their later periods, in an
unintelligible farrago of letters, which either represent a
wholly barbarised dialect, or else indicate the ignorant
attempts of a barbaric people to continue the fashion of
using a language, the knowledge of which had died out.
The philological value of these indisputable facts consists
in the indication it gives us
"1. Of the existence, in Bactria, of a spoken dialect of
the Greek, current after the conquest of Alexander from the
time of Theodotus, B.C. 256, to that of Pantaleon, B. C. 120,
(v. for dates Wilson Ar. Ant. c. iv. passim}. 2. Because,
as the language of established monarchy, and of the domi-
nant class, it was continued on the coinage of their barbaric
successors. 3. Preparing us for the occurrence of dialectic
peculiarities, savouring of Greek origin, in the language of
unread inscriptions, or even of spoken tongues with which
further enquiry and investigation may make us acquainted.
" The number of Bactrian monarchs whom Professor
Wilson sees reason to class as of unblemished Greek
descent, is eighteen. The attempt to adjust their chronolo-
gical succession has been loosely tried, but there can be no
doubt that many, if not most of them, were contemporary
kings of different portions of what had been Grecian
Bactria. The numismatic evidence in our possession shows
Theodotus/ whom Professor Wilson does not reckon in
* There is historic mention of & first, and second, Theodotus or
Diodotus : I have in this paper only looked to numismatic evi-
dences, which afford one king only of the name. H. T,
VOL. XV. E
26 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
the number above noted, Euthydemus, and Demetrius,* to
have been the only purely Greek monarchs of Bactria;
their title king, and their proper name simply, in the geni-
tive case of the Greek, are given upon the coins as yet
found, which have issued from their mint.
" Eukratides, B. C. 181, (I give Bayer's and Wilson's
chronology) is the first who gives signs of orientalisation,
though in style of workmanship his silver tetradrachms are
exquisite medallic specimens. He ceases to be simply
king on all his coins ; he becomes, on some of them great
king, and upon one, the authority for this, however, is
doubtful, king-saviour. The source of this amplified
title is explained on the obverse of some only of his coins.
His name, as king ; his title, in Greek, as great king ; in
Greek letters, are explained in the local dialect of the land
he had adopted, and he appears, in Pracrit, as Maharaja.
We may trace, on the one hand, in the sparse employment
of the Pracrit legend, in the case of this monarch, and, on
* " The reasons for which I identified with this king the name
of a supposed JMayes, or Mains, are given in the Journal of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, for 1840. Professor Wilson has done
me the honour to state my argument (Ar. Ant. c. iv. p. 313.
4to.) ; which is, lie states, ' annihilated ' by the discovery of an
undoubted King Mayes, whom he places, with justice, among the
barbaric princes of Cabul. A comparison of the pure Greek
type of the Mains Demetrius coin (Ar. Ant. plate viii. fig. 18.)
and its Greek inscription only, with the barbaric Mayes having
a Pracrit legend, and an oriental title, ' Great king of kings ' (ut
supra, fig. 10, plate vii. fig. 5,) might have satisfied the Profes-
sor that I have not, in a numismatic sense, endured annihilation,
that my classical argument is good as applied to a classical
subject, and that Mains Demetrius, with his caduceus and Greek
matronymic, and Mayes the barbarian, now treading on a pros-
trate figure, ' now ' sitting cross-legged on a couch, ' are not the
same persons.' Mains, juato? ' filius Maiaj/ (Hor.) or Mercury ;
and Mayes, the Deus Lunus (mao, moon, Zend.) of a Scythic
horde, arc easily separable. H. T.
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OP CABUL. 27
the other, in the bungling manner in which some native
artist doubtless has tried his hand at the Greek characters
(v. this Journal, June, 1835, PL XXV. fig. 5), of his ampli-
fied title, signs of the fusion going on between the con-
querors, and the conquered. His coins contribute to our
vocabulary the word /jueyaXos great, and perhaps cra)Tr)p
saviour.
" The name of Eukratides with the word peyas occurs in
conjunction with that of Heliokles, and Laodice, on a
unique coin procured by Dr. Lord, and described in this
Journal (July, 1838, PL XXVII, fig. L) by, of course, our
ever-lamented James Prinsep. Heliokles himself, however,
B. c. 147, adopted the title of just SIKCUOS as peculiar to
himself, and this word, with its translation in Pracrit, ob-
tains on almost all his coins.
"Lysias, B.C. 147, called himself aviK^ro^ the uncon-
quered, and translated the title on the Pracrit obverse of
his coinage.
"Amyntas, B. C. 135, varied the royal attributive to
VLKdToyp being the Doric of vifcrjrcop conqueror: this
word again is the poetic form of vi/crjTt)p or vi/crjTrjs
(v. Liddell and Scott's Lexicon. Oxon. 1843) : I am care-
ful to show the irregularity of the language for reasons to
be given hereafter.
" Agathokleia, of whom one coin alone has been disco-
vered, is the only queen who figures in the Bactrian dynasties.
Her epoch is uncertain. She called her coin, piously and
ungrammatically, as being /3a<rL\i,craas BeorpoTro (v) of the
god-turn queen : had rpoTros been used adjectively, it
should have been necessarily in the feminine. (?) The pro-
per word is 0fcOTpe7TT05 (JEschyl. Pers. 905) god-sent.
She is translated in Pracrit as Maharajasa (not) Ranee)
Midatasa Mikasa-klayatsa.
28 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
" Anthnachus, B. c. 140, boldly records on bis tetradrachm
his own apotheosis; he is /SowtXeu? 9eo<$ god: on his
hemi-drachm vucyfyopos bringing victory, translated like
the viKdTtop of Amyntas Jayadharasa.
"Philoxenes, B.C. 126,, has the same title and translation
as L*ysias.
" Antialkides, B.C. 135, and Archelius, B.C. 125120,
both adopt the latter title of Antimachus.
'* Menander, B. C. 126, who is mentioned by Strabo
(Wilson in loc.) as having crossed the Hypanis (Sutlej)
and reached the Isamis (Jumna) river, a monarch whose
extensive dominions lay to the eastward of Bactria Proper,
has as title (rcorTjp saviour and on one coin Sircaios.
if Apollodotus, who is also mentioned in narrative history,
B.C. 110, continues the title o-coryp', but in one remarkable
coin described and figured in this Journal (August, 1833,
PI. XIV. fig. 4. June, 1835, PL XXVI. fig. 4) adds to it
Kai (f)i\o7raTopos (in the genitive) and father lover : the
Pracrit legend on this coin does not contain the translation
of this new affix.
" Dioinedes, B. c. 100, and Hermssus, B. C. 98, continue
the single title cram?/): and the two last of the series of
true Grecian monarchs Agathokles, B. c. 135, and Pantaleon,
B. c. 120, are both content with the plain monarchic prefix.
" We now reach the epoch of the first barbaric princes of
Bactria, of whom it is sufficient in this place to say that
they were Sakae, Sakas, or Scythians, who being, says
Strabo, ' Asii, Pasiani, Tokhari,* and Sakarauli,' engaged
* These people are mentioned by Ptolemy as a powerful tribe
to the north-east of Bactria (Wilkinson's An. ^Eg, 111. c. X.) and
their name is read in the Hieroglyphs of Miulcemit Aboo as
opponents of the ^Egyptian armies. The other names tell their
own history.- II. T.
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 29
the Parthians, and were ultimately forced upon Ariana to
the destruction of the Greek monarchies, and thence upon
India, in which their progress was arrested by the prowess
of Vicramaditya, king of Avanti or Oojein B.C. 56, com-
monly called Sakari, ( the foe of the Sakas.' (Wilson in loc.)
Some light is thrown upon the immigration of these hordes
by the accounts of Chinese historians quoted by Messrs.
De Guignes and Remusat, in addition to the information
afforded by Strabo and Trogus Pompeius, of the whole of
which Professor Wilson has made ample and excellent use^
The chain of numismatic evidence as respects these inva-
ders commences with the name of Eu, and Su Hermacus,
according to the arrangement in the Ariana Antiqua. The
coins are of barbarous execution, the Pracrit characters
corrupt, the Greek very much so ; the title is perhaps an
exemplification of the actual manner in which the word
o-coT'rjpos of the saviour was locally pronounced in a
barbarised Greek dialect, viz. with the omission of the w.
" Passing over a few coins of uncertain names on which
the learned have bestowed much trouble, only, in my
opinion, to prove to us that they belong to a period of great
internal confusion, during which the dominant chiefs could
not command the services of any educated Greek, or even
competent artificer, we arrive at the epoch of Mayes,
B. C. 100 ; a barbarian king, whose barbarian title runs
/3ao-*\eu9 pacrCkewv peyaXov Mauov of the king of kings,
of great Mayes : this is translated in Pracrit Rajadhira-
jasa Mahatasa Ma-a-sa.
" A successor who repeats the Mithridatic title king of
kings was Palirisus, B. C. 80, a king apparently of limited
dominion and short reign.
" With the coins of this prince have been found sparingly
those of Spalyrius, B. C. 75. The legend is interesting, as
30 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
it contains a complete phrase in correct Greek, apart front
the name, which is in the nominative instead of genitive
case : ^TraXvpios Si/caiov aBe\^>ov rov ffao-iXea)?. Spaly*
rius (of the) just (true ?) brother of the king instead of
- ' of Spalyrius,' &c. The Pracrit is read Alabaraputasa
Dhamiasa Spalapharamasa. The coins of Azilise, B. C.
60, and Azes, B. C. 50, continue the same ultra-regal title.
" All the above legends of barbaric kings are tolerably
well written with the exception of the a and the o, the latter
of which is invariably represented by a square, but we now
come to a nameless monarch who seems to have reigned,
by the abundance in which his coins have been found there,
in the Punjab, who adopts new forms for several letters :
he calls himself aoor^p /jueyas jBaa-CKevs /Bacn\ea>v great
saviour king of kings and by his mounted effigy, seems
to have been a Scythian. His religion was apparently fire-
worship.
" The Indo-Parthian dynasty of Vonones, Undopherres,
and Gondophares also adopted for their coins Greek le-
gends with a Pracrit obverse, the titles saviour or king of
kings. The name Abagases has been once read Akaja
Kubhasa in the Pracrit, as noted in this Journal (July 1838.
PI. XXVIII. fig. 16,) and classed in connection with this
dynasty ; to which also Kodes or Hyrkodes must be con-
sidered to belong. His coins have a Greek legend only,
and are remarkable as presenting us with an addition to
our vocabulary pa/capos blessed. It is used with a word,
the corrupt Greek letters of which may read Ordeethro, or
Ordeoro ; the root of it is evidently Zend.
" f We now come,' says Professor Wilson, e to a long and
important series of coins, the issue of princes of well-
defined names and unquestioned Scythian descent/ of
whom ' Kadphises is the earliest.' The dominion of these
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 31
potentates seems to have been about Cabul and Jullalabad,
spreading occasionally along the Indus, and into the Pun-
jab. The dynasty consists, as far as is at present, known,
of Kadphises, or Kadaphes, Kanerkes or Kanerkis,
Kenorano to Ooerki, and a certain Baraono, to whose
coinage seems to have succeeded that of Ardokro, with
which the use of Greek letters died out, the language as
applied to numismatic legends having already all but dis-
appeared. I cannot help being of opinion that the last name
is not that of a reigning monarch but of a tutelar deity.
The words Mioro or Mithro, ' Mao, Okro, and Ardokro on
the Kanerki coins with their accompanying symbols, refer/
says Professor Wilson, ' to the Mithraic worship favoured
or introduced by that prince. There can be little, if any,
doubt of the fact/
" This Indo-Scythian group of potentates presents to the
philologist matter of very peculiar interest. The earliest
king (or kings) introduces new Greek words as descriptive
of regal merit arid dignity in conjunction, to a certain
degree, with the old t king of kings ' title, and even ap-
pears, as I read the words, to place upon his coin a
familiar expression of vernacular Greek. His successor (?)
alternates the Grecian form of the title above noted with its
equivalent in Hindee, Rao Nana Rao ; and continues to
affix, after his name, with this title current in India to this
day, the corrupt form of a Greek appellative ! Later kings
fall, as I have noticed, into total barbarism of language and
expression.
" This group of coins has afforded numismatologists
much trouble, and their difficulties are epitomised by Pro-
fessor Wilson in the legends, some of which I give in
simple Greek characters.
32 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
" 1. Kopo-o /co&vXo fcaSfa&v pi. xi. f. 10, Ariana
Antiqua.
" 2. oo-ovriXvc pi. xi. f. 12, ditto.
" 3. oyvox faofjLo pi. xi. f. 13, ditto.
" 4. &0ov KO%O\V /caSafas Kopavo Journ. As. Soc. B.,
June, 1835, pi. xxiv., and Sept. 1836, pi. xxxv.
" 5. pao vavo pao /cavrjp/a tcopavo pi. xii. fig. 3, Ariana
Antiqua.
" ' It may,' says the Professor, ' furnish some clue to the
origin of these coins, that as far as we can conjecture the
purport of their legends, the title of king is wanting on the
reverse of all, and also on the obverse of the coins which
bear the names of Kadaphes and Kadphises. What may
be the meaning of Zathou, Korano, or Korso in the Greek,
it is impossible to say, or whether either (any ?) of them be
equivalent to king: the latter recurs in the coins of
Kanerkes in a position in which it cannot well have that
signification. Neither (none ?) of the others bear a resem-
blance to any Turkish title, as Beg or Khan. It is said,
indeed, that the Sakas, when subdued by the Yui-chi, had
no king: and it is elsewhere mentioned (?), that in the
century before our era they had abolished royalty, and
remained under the command of military chiefs ; and hence
possibly the adoption by them of the portraits and types of
Hermseus at various times, and the insertion of names and
epithets unconnected with royalty. These coins, therefore,
might be the issues of different military officers of the
Sakas, during the latter half of the century that preceded
the Christian era, and the establishment of the kingdom of
the Yui-chi ; in which case the conjecture that these coins
bear the name of the Yui-chi prince, Kiu-tsiu-kio, would
fall to the ground.' (v. also Ar. Ant. on the same subject
pp. 358-59, 4to.)
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 33
" Jn dealing with the difficulties above set forth, it must
be recollected that we have to do with a dialectic difference,
as I read it, of the Greek, which had, as we have already
seen, become even in Grseco-Bactrian periods, incorrect,
not to say corrupt ; but strange to say, it is not the less in
its elements Grecian, as I shall proceed to show. Should
my brief dissertation appear a little pedantic, I trust it may
be excused on the ground that the subject is new and
curious, and one which the savans of Europe have, by their
tacit concurrence with the dicta of Professor Wilson, pro-
nounced inexplicable.
" As to the first word, then, in the legend No. 1> Kop&o,
I must remark, with reference to those which will form the
matter of our sequent enquiry, that it is intended to be in
the genitive case, the legends of this period giving us o,
and even v for the genitive ov : the nominative of this word
would therefore be fcopcro?. The word /copo-r), which in old
Homeric Greek * (II. 4, 502-5, 584,) is used plurally for
the temples, or sides of the head, and more modernly in a
poetic sense for the head, is the root whence this barbarized
substantive has been derived. There is a legitimate Greek
noun Kopa^ (one who cuts or shaves the hair), but it
springs from quite another origin (/ceipcD - to clear or
shave). The attempt has been evidently made in the rude
word before us to impersonize the head, as alluding to the
qualifications of the individual to whom it is applied to
head or lead a tribe or people. It is,, in fact, however irre-
gularly, the philological equivalent of our common and
popular English word, header.
The next difficulty in legend No. 1, is simplified by look-
ing on the word at once as composite : there is no such, nor
* Sanac. ^eersha : root,
VOL XV. F
34 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
the semblance of such in Greek. It appears on the legends
with different spellings, the second syllable being at one
time vowelised with o, at another ov. As respects this
difference., I refer the reader, in the first instance, to the
Greek dialectic differences which I have detected in the
pure Graeco-Bactrian period ; and then remind him of the
Doric (which we have already found in the coins), and
./Eolic permutations of ov for &> ; and in the latter dialect of
even o for co ; sufficient, as critics too well know, to warrant
in pure Greek literature a wearisome variety of readings.
It is no stigma on our scholarship, if we explain the barba-
rised written form of a rude spoken (?) dialect by a reference
to these varieties. I read the word as /cat ofwAou, the
KOI being abbreviated as in KCLV for xal av /cdXov rcdyaOov
for KOL a<ya06v : * the adjective being formed from o Jo?
a branch,f and metaphorically, a scion or offshoot (ob?
apTio? II. 2, 540) : its meaning therefore is that of brancher,
branch-giver, or branch-leader. I read the legend No. I,
in English of the header and branch-leader Kadphises.
Before quitting the subject of this legend, I may quote
* " As authority for the absorption of at in a legend vowel, T
cite from a fragment of Archiloclms (apud Ammonium) given as
follows in De la Roviere's Greek Poets, (Ed. Colonae. Allobm.
1614)
ob? ap* d\o)7rr} rt
" M. Mure (Grit. Hist. Gr. Lit. v. III. 56,) quotes the line from
Bergk's Poett. Lyrr. 487, fig. 91, thus
as ap
K. T. X.
" As examples, both readings favour my hypothesis too plainly
to need further exposition. H. T.
f " Scholars who might assign a derivation less complimentary
to Kadphises, are requested to remember that that adjective is
0^0X7;?. H. T
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 35
a very curious passage in the elder Pliny (B. 17) which
bears upon the Scythic use of the word Chorsus or
Chorsas, as descriptive of the heads or leaders of a tribe.
I need hardly remark that, chronologically speaking, there
would have been ample time for the adoption of the (foreign)
term as a national phrase before Pliny wrote of the Scy-
thians ; and I may mention, that I believe the word, which
occurs in no dictionaries (?), is not to be found elsewhere in
any classic of authority. Should my Greek derivation be
thought arbitrary, I have yet a meaning indigenous among
the (Indo) Scythians for the first word in the legend in the
passage as follows : ' Ultra sunt populi Scythorum : Persse
illos Sacas universes appellavere aproxima gente ; antiqui
Aremeos ; Sacce ipsi Persas Chorsaros.'
'' The legend No. 2, occurs also on a coin of Kadphises,
marking the commencement of the introduction of a Mith-
raic worship which became generally current in the time of
Kanerkes, whose coins bear indifferently the Greek 77X409,
or the Zend Graecised piOpo. It is slightly barbarised by
the omission of an L ; or perhaps rather the use of v for t : it
reads easily, ocrov f)\t,ov as great as the Sun.
" The legend, No. 3, 1 introduce, not to explain it, but to
give such readers as are new to this branch of study a fair
specimen of the unintelligible, together with my assurance
that there is infinitely more of the like found, and to be
found, which patience, ingenuity, and the spread of intelli-
gence will make patent to us ; of course if labourers be
found where the vineyard is so large and fruitful. The
second word gives an idea of the Greek </>?7/^.
" Legend No. 4 contains the three words, one of which I
have explained, which constitute the despair of the author
of Ariana Antiqua. They are not the less Greek, very
slightly barbarised. The use of the first, however, as
36 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
applied personally, argues the same corruption of language,
traces of which have already met us ; a0o? %a0eos
divine, godlike, majestic ; (frpvywv re ^dOeoc crekavcu (Eurip.
Troades, 1074.) being used by Homer (in the Iliad only) as
also by Hesiod and Pindar as applicable to places and
cities frequented by the gods (in the same sense as rjyaOeos
in relation to dyaOos). Here the rude dialect applies it to
the king, Kadaphes, who also assumes the o^wXo? title, and
adds, as his sovereign designation, the Greek word, doubt-
less as it was barbarously pronounced, Koipavos : KOI-
pavov Kopavo. When Mr. Masson vaguely guessed the
word meant 'a military chief,' he was right. It occurs
joined with rjye/JLcav (II. 2, 487; also, II. 7, 234, Koipave
\adov}, and joined with /SacrtXeu? (11.2,204): but is ordi-
narily used as lord or master, in which sense the well
known line of the Iliad ' OVK dyaQov 7ro\vfcoipaviri, It9
Koipavos ecrra)' gives two instances. It may be fairly
taken on these authorities as "equivalent to king;' and I
read No. 4, in English therefore Of the divine and
branch-leading Kadaphes king. *
* " Prof Wilson says (Ar. Ant. p. ooS-9) ' With regard to
the epithet, if it be an epithet, Korano, it has already been ob-
served that Mr. Masson considers it as denoting " chief ' or
' military leader ' at a time when In do-Scythians had substituted
military chiefs for kings. No authority is given for the meaning,
and it would be obviously incompatible with the use of the words
Rao and Basileus with which Korano is associated.' This asser-
tion is against that of Hesiod (Works and Days, 261), and of
Homer as in the Hymn to Ceres, and of Herodotus and of
Plutarch in their lives or notices of Homer (v. Mure's Critical
Hist. Or. Lit, vol. ii., appendix F.) 'The title Basileus frequently
occurs in the Works and Days ' says Mr. M. ' but in the plural
number, and evidently denoting an aristocratical magistracy
acting also as judges similar to the Arclions of Athens, or the
Prytancs of Corinth and Corcyra.' By historic analogy we thus
arrive at an idea of the political character of these princes of
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL. 37
" Legend No. 5, gives us the interesting spectacle of this
pure Greek word in vernacular contact with one which still
forms part of the spoken Hindee of this country Of the
king of kings Kanerkes king (or Lord).
" It is interesting as part of the speculation which repre-
sents the people over whom this dynasty ruled as being
under military chiefs or lords in the Punjab, and as having
abolished royalty, to detect in one of the epithets of these
potentates an indication of the leader of a sect or branch ;
and it is curious, as history is ever a repetition of herself,
to discover in this rude community the prototype of the
Sikhs, divided into their ofoi or Missuls, before the domi-
nant influence of the great and wise Runjeet had consoli-
dated their power into the union of a monarchy.
"The last observation which I have to offer respecting
these coins is a conjecture as to a very peculiar legend of
Kadphises, in which, in a very perfect silver specimen (the
only Indo-Scythian silver coin yet [1841] found), there
occurs after J3ao-i\evs ftacri\<tiv /jieyas the inexplicable word
OOHMO. A similar barbarism occurs on a large copper
coin of this king after the words /3ao-A.eu? ySacr/Aecov acorrjp
peyas written 6OMHN. It varies apparently on other
coins to OOH, 6OK, OOHK, OOKM. Is not the first a
barbarised effort to write o epov who (is) of me, i. e. my 1
Cabul and the Punjab, who were civil judges (ftdo-tXeis) and military
leaders (icoipavoi) or lords, the feminine of which title Aristophanes
uses for lady.
" To put an end to all doubt as to the value of these several
titles, I append Johannes Tzetzes the Grammarian's remark on
an Orphic distich which he quotes in his Commentary on Lyco-
phron's Oassandria, 523, * showing the difference of these.'
eorai 6' av T\S dvrjp rj Koipavos r] rvpavvos
rj fiaaiXcvs os rrjp,os fS ovpavbv tercu alnvv.
" (Apud Lobekii Aglaophamuin, lib. ii. sec. 3). H. T.
38 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
And the second a like attempt to express 6 rj/mlv who (is)
to us, i. e. our ? The reduplication of the o would express
the aspirate, and even classical authority (ot/yito? for o e^o<?
being the Attic contraction ; found also II. 8, 360,) admits
the running of the words together. We thus have a
curious and familiar legend in both cases.
" 1 King of kings great (of me) Kadphises. *
" 2 King of kings saviour great to us Kadphises.
" The other barbarous legends are natural mistakes on
the part of ignorant die-cutters directed to employ a new
form of words. These, which are barbarisms of execution,
are thus easily accounted for : the barbarisms of diction,
I would submit, are no where so great in the legends of
these coins, as in the barbarous, but still intelligible Greek
of the Triballus of Aristophanes, who says (it is his longest
speech)
" tcakavi Kopavva ical jneyaXa ftacriXwav
opviOi TrapaSiScofM,.^
" Indeed, I rather think our Bactrian and Indo-Scythian
barbarisms gain by the comparison. Our Kopavo is surely
preferable to the drawling feminised Kopavva of Triballus;
while the (3acri,\icrcra of Queen Agathokleia is so superior to
the Triballic corruption of ftacrCkivav, that one utterly for-
gives her the ungrammatical memory in which her name is
perpetuated. It is a curious and not invaluable coincidence
that gives us, in this one line, two of the words for compa-
rison of our slender numismatic vocabulary.
* " The Pracrit-translated legend should assist us in both
these instances, bnt the reading of the first is declared by
Professor Wilson as doubtful, and the second is entered by him
illegible at the very point in which we require it. H. T.
f " 1 14-1 L5 lines of the last scene of 'the Birds;
T/n/3uAXo?. f]pa<\rjs. TrdtrOcTaipos. H. T.
GREEK LEGENDS OF COINS OF CABUL 39
" It now only remains to record one or two reflections
which naturally ensue upon a review, such as has been here
attempted, of indistinct and obscure material for history.
The question that suggests itself is, if the subject does not
contain much in itself, to what does it point as a subject for
enquiry ? The exploration of Kafiristan is one point ; and
the study of the immigration of nomad tribes into this
country another. The first must of course depend upon far
other than scientific authority ; the second is in the power
of any man reasonably familiar with the language and
manners of the natives of Upper India. Passing by the
latest colony that has settled itself in the land, the Pathans
of Rohilkhund, I would suggest the study of that singular
race, the Goojurs stamped still with the type of nomads, so
lately has their immigration been into Upper India, and
from them to the Juts or Jats, the Thuggas, and other
anomalous tribes. All have their traditions, and their
simple records, and I suspect that it will be erentually from
them, critically examined, that the real internal and popular
history of the country will be, if it ever is to be, elicited.
" Numismatics are but partially available to this end ;
but their value is immense; and, with reference to dark
portions of history in particular, their study should never be
remitted, nor discouraged. It is always unfortunate when
any declaration is made ex cathedra in science to the effect
that a thing is ' impossible : ' it is equivalent to the act of
the disappointed votary who would brick up the archway
of the temple because it was not his fortune to make his
entry into its penetralia. Much as we owe to Professor
Wilson, we do not the less feel that the study of Indo-
Bactrian numismatics sustained a check in his announce-
ment that philological discovery was not to be thought of
in some of the most salient points of our most interesting
40 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
period.* When, therefore, with all the reverence due to
this eminent and respected man of letters, I venture at this
particular time to prove that his assertion was erroneous, it
is in the ardent hope of resuscitating among our country-
men in the East, and more particularly among the members
of the Asiatic Society, a study which the present position of
our Anglo-Indian empire seems so peculiarly to favour."
III.
NUMISMATIC NOTICES.
No. 1.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT
TARSUS.
To be correctly informed of the source whence our know-
ledge of certain ancient numismatic monuments is derived,
would, in all cases, be of the highest value and interest ;
but, however we may regret the fact, that most desirable
information is, and, for a variety of reasons, it is to be feared,
always will be, extremely difficult, if not, in some instances,
altogether impossible to obtain.
In that part of the world where these treasures are
* " With reference to the march of discovery, I may mention
that whereas in a recent paper in the Journal, I quoted Bunsen's
new Egyptian chronology, I have now lying before me (sent from
England by our able friend, Mr. Laidlay) the thirteenth edition
of Gliddon's Ancient Egypt, in the appendix to which he notes
that the more recent discoveries of Lepsius and the Prussian
literati ' will carry the age of Menes some centuries beyond
B. c. 3643, back by the incontrovertible testimony of the Pyra-
midal monuments' " H. T.
CHINESE BANK NOTE.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 41
usually discovered, the original finder, having the fear of
the local authorities before him, generally makes up a story
of his own ; and it is easy to conceive, that to this fact may
be attributed, much of the misrepresentation, and mystery,
which so frequently attend the discovery of hoards of
ancient coins ; for, as it is clear that it would generally be
inconvenient to name the actual spot, and, moreover, it
being equally clear that they must have been found some-
where, it follows that we are more likely to receive a false,
than a true statement.
In the present instance, however, I incline to the opinion
that the finding of those I am about to notice, did actually
take place as has been represented, namely, at a spot about
equidistant between the once flourishing cities of Tarsus
and Adana, both situated within that district of Asia Minor
which borders upon Syria Proper, and known to the geogra-
pher and historian under the name of Cilicia Carnpestris,
for, independently of the high respectability of the parties
by whom the statement was communicated, I trust I shall
be enabled to prove that the coins themselves furnish abun-
dant evidence of its probability.
In the first place, the province, in which they were found,
formed an integral part of the Syrian empire under all the
monarchs whose names and effigies appear on the coins ;
and, secondly, on those of four of these rulers, we, for the
first time, meet with a type, hitherto (with but one excep-
tion, to which we shall presently allude) known only on the
local autonomous currency of the city of Tarsus, in the
immediate vicinity of which the treasure was discovered.
This type is the supposed representation of the ancient
mausoleum of the Assyrian monarch Sardanapalus, the
reputed founder of that far-famed city.
This ancient deposit is stated to have been discovered,
VOL. xv. o
42 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
at the place already indicated, in the summer of 1848, by
an Arab excavator, at a depth of about twenty feet below
the present level of the earth ; the coins were found in a
leaden box, and the number it contained, all Syrian regal
tetradrachms, was about two hundred.
On opening the box, the coins were found united in one
compact mass, evidently resulting from a constant chemical
action of the lead, for it was found that of all those which
came into actual contact with it, the types were totally and
irretrievably obliterated ; these imperfect specimens, to the
number of more than sixty, were afterwards consigned to
the crucible.
The exact number sufficiently preserved for the cabinet
was 139, and these being forwarded from Tarsus to Smyrna,
one hundred were there purchased for my account, and
in September, 1849, I included them in my Numismatic
Catalogue, and there briefly noticed all the varieties then
known to me.
On that occasion I observed, that u this extraordinary
addition to the already extensive series of the coins of the
Syrian kings, may be viewed as the opening of a new field
in the science of Numismatics : for it is possible that future
discoveries may prove, that the Graeco-Syrian monarchs
adopted the local type of the principal cities of their empire
upon their money : " but I did not then direct attention to
the fact that the types of Tyre, Sidon, and Antioch, were
already known. To this interesting class the discovery of
our coins has added that of Tarsus ; and, still more recently,
that of Aradus has been found on a tetradrachm of Alex-
ander Bala.* In addition to these there is much reason to
* Communicated to the Revue Numismatique for 1850, by
M. Le Due de Luynes.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 43
suspect that the " figure panthee," of Mionnet, found on the
coins of Demetrius II, bears reference to the local type of
the city of Rhosus.
At the period to which I have just alluded, I was only
acquainted with those varieties which had been consigned
to me ; of these, a short notice was prepared for publication
in the Numismatic Chronicle, but, in consequence of some
information which reached me relating to those retained by
the original purchaser, I deemed it desirable to defer it, and,
with the permission of my friend Mr. Akerman, the paper
was withdrawn from the hands of his printers.
At the desire of some friends, this original, but neces-
sarily incomplete paper, was read before the Numismatic
Society, with the understanding, however, that as the writer
was in possession of some supplementary information, it
was not to be printed in its proceedings.
On the occasion of the purchase of my portion of the
Tarsus " trouvaille," it was stipulated and agreed, that it
should consist of all those specimens which might remain
after my correspondent had made a selection of a few va-
rieties of each type for his own private cabinet; the effect
of this arrangement was, that those types of which there
existed only one specimen, of course did not fall to my
share, and it was on account of my inability to add the
descriptions of these unique coins that the publication of
the paper, to which I have already alluded, was suppressed,
but as I now possess the necessary information relating to
them, I shall proceed to incorporate it with the substance
of my original notice.
In the following description the types are noted and
arranged in chronological order :
44 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
DEMETRIUS II. NICATOR.
(Also surnamed " Theos," and " Philadelphus," reigned,
before his captivity, B. c. 146 to l38=Seleucian /Era 166 to
174.)
1. Obv. Young beardless head of Nicator, wearing the royal
fillet, or diadem, and looking to the right, all within
a beaded circle.
Rev. BAZIAEfl? AHMHTPIOT. EOT. Nl-
KATOPO2. Minerva standing to the left; on
the right hand she supports a small statue of vic-
tory, in the act of presenting a wreath of laurel :
behind her is the hasta, or long sceptre; the left
hand of the deity is placed on her shield, which
rests on the ground at her side. In the field, to
the left, and beyond the legend, is a small branch,
or flower ; and on the exergue are the monograms
No. 35 and 36. ( 1 Specimen. Weight 246'7 grains.
Size 8).
Of this type there was only one specimen, arid, as regards
the legend in combination with it, the coin is probably
unique.
Mr. Birch, in the Numismatic Chronicle (Vol. II. p. 169),
has published a tetradrachm of this monarch, which also
bears the figure of Minerva Victrix for type ; but the
legend is BASIAEflZ. AHMHTPIOT. &IAAAEA-
$OT. NIKATOPOSit was obtained for the national
collection from the cabinet of Mr. Warmington.*
2. Obv. As the last.
* Mr, Birch, in his description of this tetradrachm (loc. cit.)
has said, that " the type occurs in the list of M. Mionnet, but that
it differs in the monograms and letters of the exergue." If this
observation refers to the tetradrachmse of Demetrius II., I do not
find it in the list to which he has alluded.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 45
Rev. Same legend, but with the type of Jupiter seated to
the left, and sustaining on his extended right hand
a statuette of victory ; the left hand of the god is
raised, and holds a long sceptre. On the exergue
is a monogram, but defaced. (One specimen.
* Weight 237-5, Size 8).
The type of the seated Jupiter is known on some
drachmae of this monarch, before his captivity, but on
them the deity holds an eagle instead of a victoriola, and
they bear the surnames of Philadelphus and Nicator.
Both of these coins, like that in the British Museum, are
without date ; but the youthful portrait satisfactorily proves
that they were minted before his captivity ; and, conse-
quently, during the first period of his reign.
ANTIOCHUS VII. SIDETES.
(Also surnamed " Evergetes," reigned B.C. 138 to 128 =
Seleucian ^Era, 174 to 184).
3. Obv. Diademed portrait of Sidetes looking to the right,
and within an ornamental beaded circle.
Rev.BAZIAEfll,. ANTIOXOT. ETEPFETOT.
Athene Nikephora, or Minerva Victrix, precisely
as on the coins of his brother Demetrius II, No. 1,
but within a wreath of laurel. (6 Specimens. Size
8 to 8J).
VARIETIES. With dates.
1. On the exergue SOP (Seleucian JEra 179 =B. c. 133).
In the field, the letters AE over the monogram
No. 6. (2 specimens. Weight 243-5 253'5 grs).
2. On the exergue BIIP (Seleucian ^Era 182 = B. c.
130). In the field, the monogram No. 7. (1 Speci-
men. Weight 247 grs.)
Without dates.
3. In the field, the monogram No. 9 over No. 10.
(1 Specimen. Weight 246 -5 grs.)
46 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
4. In the field, the monogram No. 8 over the letter A.
(2 Specimens. Weight 253254 grs.)
This type is the commonest of the currency of
Sidetes the year of the Seleucian ^Era, 179,^was pre-
viously unknown ; and this discovery completes the series
of his regnal years except the last, namely, A.S. 184, which
has not yet been published.
4. Obv. As the last.
. ANTIOXOT. ETEPTETOT.
An edifice, or monument, comp sed of a pyramid
placed on an oblong base, or pedestal, ornamented
with flowers disposed in three festoons : on the
summit of the pyramid is an eagle with the wings
extended, as if in the act of flight; and on the front
is sculptured a horned quadruped, on the back of
which stands a figure wearing the niodius on the
head, and holding in one hand a kind of cantharus,
or drinking cup, and with the other, a sertum, or
chaplet; on either side of the animal is an uncer-
tain symbol of conical form. In the field, to the
left, and beyond the legend, the letters AT over
ME. (1 Specimen. Weight 259'7. Size 8).
This unique tetraclrachm is fortunately well preserved, as
is proved by its weight. In my prefatory remarks I have
said, that, with but one exception, this type was known only
on the local currency of Tarsus : the exception to which I
alluded, is the drachma of Demetrius II., formerly in the
Devonshire collection, on the reverse of which is the same
figure standing on the quadruped without the pyramidal
edifice ; but on the money of Tarsus it occurs precisely as
on the tetradrachm I have just described.
Beger, in his te Thesaurus Brandeburgicus," was the first
to explain this type, as occurring on the coins of Tarsus, as
the representation of the tomb, or mausoleum, of Sardana-
palus, the last of the kings of Assyria, by whom, according
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 47
to Stephanus Byzantinus, that city, to this day called
Tersoos, was founded. He supposed that the figures upon
it were intended for the monarch standing upon a lynx-
Vaillant calls the animal a lion, others, a panther, and the
figure upon it, Bacchus. Maffei decides for a horse, and
that writer supposes that, together with the figure, it is an
allusion to a peculiar game, or combat, which was per-
formed by men standing upon horses, and which, he says,
was called " dolichos." Pellerin has cited all these conjec-
tures, but offers no opinion of his own.
On an unpublished drachma of Antiochus IX, formerly
in my possession, the same figure apparently stands at the
side, and not on the back of the animal. In the field of this
coin are the letters TAP, in monogram, and we may there-
fore, not only conclude that it was certainly minted at Tarsus,
but also that the myth to which the two combined figures
alluded, was not necessarily always represented in the same
manner. The cantharus, as the attribute of Bacchus, would
justify a conjecture that that deity is intended, although the
pyramidal edifice on which he is sculptured, may still pre-
sent to us the form of the mausoleum of Sardanapalus, who,
we may readily imagine to have been reverenced by the
Tarsenses, as the founder of their city.
DEMETRIUS II. NICATOR.
(After his captivity ; from that time also called
"Redux"; reigned B.C. 128 to 125 = Seleucian JEra
184 to 187).
5. Obv. Diademed portrait of Nicator, in profile, to the right,
and within a beaded circle, but at a more advanced
age than on the coins minted before his captivity,
and bearded after the Parthian fashion.
48 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Rev.BAZIAEflZ. AHMHTPIOT. SEOT. NI-
KATOPO2. Zeus Nikephorus, or Jupiter Vic-
tor, seated precisely as on the coins ot the same
monarch, already described under No. 2. (7 Spe-
cimens. Size 7 to 8).
VARIETIES. With date.
1. On the exergue, the numerals EHP (Seleucian Year
185=B.c. 127), and under the throne, the mono-
gram No. 5. (1 Specimen. Weight 254 grs.)
Without dates.
2. In the field, the monograms Nos. 36 and 37. (1 Speci-
men. Weight 249-8 grs.)
3. In the field H- Under the throne, O. (1 Specimen.
Weight 252-4 grs).
4. In the field H Under the throne, A. (1 Specimen.
Weight 254 grs).
5. In the field, the monogram No. 3 twice repeated, and
superposed. (2 Specimens. Weight 249 -5
250-5 grs).
6. In the field, the monograms No, 3 over No. 4. (1 Spe-
cimen. Weight 246"5grs).
The type of Jupiter Victor is not new, and the date was
also previously known.
6. 01)V. Bearded effigy, as on the preceding coins, No. 5, and
its varieties.
AHMHTPIOT. EOT. NI-
KATOPO2. The pyramidal edifice, or mauso-
leum of Sardanapalus, precisely as on the coins of
his brother Sidetes. (2 Specimens. Size 8| and 9).
VARIETIES.
1 In the field, the monogram No. 2. (1 Specimen.
Weight 230-5 grs).
2. In the field, the monograms No. 1 over No. 2. (1 Spe-
cimen. Weight 227 grs).
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 49
Both the specimens of this type were much corroded, and
have consequently lost much weight ; the injury sustained
has fallen particularly on the obverse of the variety No. 2.
ALEXANDER II. ZEBINA.
(Reigned contemporaneously with Demetrius II, Seleucus V,
and with Cleopatra and her son Antiochus VIII, B.C. 128 to
122=Seleucian ^Era, 184 to 190.)
7. Obv. Diademed portrait of Zebina, looking to the right.
Reo.BASIAEnS* AAEZANAPOT. The tomb of
Sardanapalus, as on the coins of Antiochus VII,
and Demetrius II. In the field, 'to the left, and
beyond the legend, the monograms, No. 4 and
No. 36, superposed. (1 Specimen. Weight
150-2 grs.)
This unique tetradrachm is of great historical interest, as
it proves that during his reign he must have possessed some
authority in Cilicia, though it is well attested that he never,
at any period, ruled over the whole of the provinces com-
posing the Syrian empire.
CLEOPATRA and ANTIOCHUS VIII.
(Reigned jointly from B.C. 125 to 120=Seleucian ./Era 187
to 192.)
8. Obv. United heads in profile (jugata, or side by side) of
Cleopatra and her second son, Antiochus VIII,
both wearing the regal fillet, and the first veiled.
Rev.BAZlAISZHZ. KAEOIIATPAS. 0EAZ.
KAl. BASIAEflZ. ANTIOXOT. Jupiter
Victor seated to the left, as on the coins already
described under Demetrius II. (19 Specimens.
Size 8.)
VARIETIES. With dates.
1. On the exergue, IIP. (Seleucian Year 189 =
B. c. 123), and in the field, the monogram No. 30.
(2 Specimens. Weight 250*5 257 grs.)
2. Same date, but without monogram. (1 Specimen.
Weight 250 grs.)
VOL. XV. H
50 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
3. On the exergue, B1P (Seleucian Year 192=B. c. 120).
In the field, the monogram No. 31, and under the
throne of Jupiter, the monogram No. 32. (5 Speci-
mens. Weight 243-5, 245, 247, 252'5, and 259 grs.)
4. Same date, but with a wing also on the exergue. In
the field, the monogram No. 38 ; and under the
throne, 21. IE P. A%T, the last two letters in
monogram. Struck at Sidon. (1 Specimen. Weight
243-6 grs.)
Without dates.
5. In the field, the monogram No. 30. (5 Specimens.
Weight, 246 (2), 247 (2), and 257 grs.)
6. The legend without the title OEA2- In the field, the
letters IE; and under the throne, A J. (1 Speci-
men. Weight 243 grs.)
7. As the last, but with A only under the throne. (3 Spe-
cimens. Weight, 240, 250 and 254'7 grs.)
8. As the two preceding, but with A under the throne.
(1 Specimen. Weight 249 grs.)
This type is not new, nor are either of the two dates ;
but the variety No. 4, struck at Sidon, and those on which
the title of &EA2 is omitted, appear to be hitherto un-
known/
ANTIOCHUS VIII. GRYPUS.
(Also surnamed Epiphanes, reigned alone from B. c. 1 20 to
lll=Seleucian ^Kra 192 to 201, and contemporaneously
with Antioehus IX, from B.C. Ill to 96 Seleucian
201 to 216.)
* In the sale catalogue of the Thomas Collection, Lot 2668, a
tetradrachm of Antiochus VIII, and Cleopatra, is described, with
the type of Jupiter seated, and without the word &EA2 in the
legend; but as the writer refers to Mt. Supp., vol. viii. pi. 13,
fig. 3, and as that figure is of the eagle type, it is clear that an error
exists either in the description of the type, or in the reference.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRAD RACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 51
9- Obv. Diademed portrait of Antiochus Vll I, looking to the
right, and within a beaded circle.
ANTIOXOT. EIIIQANOTS.
The mausoleum of Sardanapalus, as on the coins of
Antioclius VII, Demetrius II, and of Alexander
Zebina. (21 Specimens. Size 7 to 8|.)
VARIETIES.
1. In the field, the monograms No. 15 over No. 16. (5
Specimens. Weight 244, 245'5, 250-5, 251-8,
153.)
2. In the field, the monograms No. 17 over No. 18, (4
Specimens. Weight 244, 245, 248 and 256 grs.)
3. In the field, the monograms No. 19 over No. 20. (3
Specimens. Weight 247, 251, 253- 7 grs.)
4. In the field, the monograms No. 19 over No. 1. (5 Spe-
cimens. Weight 234. 249'3, 249'5 (2) and
251-5 grs.)
5. In the field, the monograms, No. 19 over No. 21. (2
Specimens. Weight 241 -5 and 2 50 '7 grs.)
6. In the field, the monograms No. 19 over No. 22. (1
Specimen. Weight 244*5 grs.)
7. In the field, a monogram. See the figure on the plate.
(1 Specimen. Weight 256 grs.)
The absence of dates on the coins of this new type is
much to be regretted.
10. Obv. Diademed portrait of Grypus, as on the preceding
coins.
ANTIOXOT. EIH&ANOTS.
Minerva Victrix, as already described on the coins
of Demetrius II, No. 1, and on those of An-
tiochus VII, No. 1. all within a wreath of laurel.
(12 Specimens. Size 7| to 9.)
VARIETIES.
1. In the field, NOT. over the monogram No. 11. (2 Spe-
cimens. Weight 249, and 252'5 grs.)
2. In the field, IjB. over the monogram No. 12. (3 Spe-
cimens. Weight 242-5, 246'5 and 250 grs.)
52 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
3. In the field, IE over @. (4 Specimens. Weight 243,
251, 256 and 256'5 grs.)
4. In the field, IE. over the monogram No. 14. (1 Spe-
cimen. Weight 250 grs.)
5. In the field, AS. over the monogram No. 13. (1 Spe-
cimen. Weight 243 '5 grs.)
6. In the field, EH over the monogram No. 14. (1 Spe-
cimen. Weight 250' 2 grs.)
This type, although not in Miotmefs list, is not new ; but
that in the Thomas collection, lot 2669, was considered to
be unique.
11. Obv. Usual portrait of Antiochus VIII.
Rev. BAZlAEflZ. ANT1OXOT. EIUQANOTS.
A semidraped statue of Zeus (by some said to be
intended for the personification of the Macedonian
month " Dins "), standing, and looking to the
left, and with a crescent over his head; on his
extended right hand, he supports a star (or what
has been called a star-shaped thunderbolt), and
with the elevated left holds a long sceptre, or
hasta, all within a laurel garland. (27 Specimens.
Size 7 to 8-i.)
VARIETIES. With dates.
1. On the exergue, E<fP. (Seleucian Year 195=iii.c.
117). In the field, the monograms No. 23 over
No. 22. (2 Specimens. Weight 252 and 253 grs.)
2. Same date. In the field, ZIAfl. IEP. AST. (the last
two letters in monogram), over an uncertain symbol.
See monogram No. 26. (1 Specimen. Weight
253*5 grs.)
3. On the exergue, CSTP. (Seleucian Year, 196~B. c.
116). In the field, the monogram No. 23 over No.
24. (2 Specimens. Weight 250 and 250' 5 grs.)
4. Same date. In the field, ZIAfl. IEP. AST. as on
Variety No. 2, but over the monogram No. 25. (2
Specimens. Weight 249 and 253'5 grs.)
RE(JAL SYRIAN TETRA DRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 53
Without dates.
5. In the field, the monogram No 21 over No. 22. (1
Specimen. Weight 252'5 grs.)
6. In the field, the letter M. (7 Specimens. Weight
242, 243, 243.5 (2), 252 (2) and 253'5 grs.)
7. In the field, M. A. (1 Specimen. Weight 246 grs.)
8. In the field, A. over EP. (2 Specimens. Weight 249
and 251 grs.)
9. In the field, IE. over A. (1 Specimen. Weight
251 grs.)
10. As the last, but on the exergue, AI. (2 Specimens.
Weight 245 and 251 grs.)
11. As before, but on the exergue P. (2 Specimens.
Weight 239 and 251-5 grs.)
12. As the preceding, but on the exergue J. (2 Specimens.
Weight 247 and 252 grs.)
13. As the four preceding, but on the exergue K. (2 Spe-
cimens. Weight 250 and 256 grs.)
12. Obv. Same portrait as No. 1 1 .
Rev.-BASIAEnS. ANTIOXOT.
Zeus, with star and hasta, as on the preceding coins,
but on these the deity is undraped. (41 Specimens.
Size 7J to 8J.)
VARIETIES. With dates.
1. On the exergue, P^P. (Seleucian Year, 193=B. c.
119). In the field, AI. over E2. (1 Specimen.
Weight 248 grs.)
2. Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 27 over
No. 28. (2 Specimens. Weight 247 and 249 grs.)
3. Same date, In the field, the monogram No. 27 over
AN. (2 Specimens. Weight 255 and 256 grs.)
4. Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 40 over
AN. (1 Specimen. Weight 247'3 grs.)
54 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
5. Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 16 over
No. 28. (I Specimen. Weight 247'2 grs.)
6. Same date. In the field, SI. IEP. AST (the two last
letters in monogram), over the monogram No. 29.
(1 Specimen. Weight 252 grs.)
7. On the exergue, J? P. (Seleucian Year, 194iz:B.c.
118.) In the field, the monogram No. 27 over
No. 28. (6 Specimens. Weight 244, 247'5, 251-5,
252-5, 253 and 254-5 grs.)
8. Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 27 over
E%. (1 Specimen. Weight 246'3 grs.)
9. Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 39 over
No. 38. (1 Specimen. Weight 246-4 grs.)
10. On the exergue, E<7 P. (Seleucian Year, 195=B. c.
117.) In the field, the monogram No. 23 over No.
28. (2 Specimens. Weight 250 and 251 grs.)
1 1 . Same date. In the field, the monogram No. 41 over
No. 28. (I Specimen. Weight 248'5 grs.)
Without dates.
12. In the field, the monogram No. 16 over No. 2. (1
Specimen. Weight 249*3 grs.)
13. In the field, the monogram No. 10 over EP. (2 Spe-
cimens. Weight 25T5 and 253 grs.)
14. In the field, IE. over A. (1 Specimen Weight
253-5 grs.)
15. As the last, but on the exergue, II. (3 Specimens.
Weight 245, 247'5 and 251 '5 grs.)
16. In the field, M. (15 Specimens. Weight 242, 244,
246-5, 247 (2), 247'5, 248, 249 (2), 251, 251-5,
253-5, 254 (2) and 255 grs.)
The draped Jupiter on the coins of Antiochus VIII,
though scarce, was a well-known type, specimens being
found in the earliest numismatic collections ; but those on
which the statue is naked, were, previously to the discovery
of this deposit, very rarely met with. It is not distinguished
REGAL SYRIAN TETRADRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 55
from those which are semi-draped in Mionnet's list, but
there was a specimen in the Thomas Cabinet (lot 2672),
which, in the sale catalogue, is described as an extremely
rare variety ; and in a note appended to its description, it
is observed, ee It may be presumed that this statue of
Jupiter was one of those of which the drapery was move-
able, and formed of bronze, or gold." Both varieties of
this type are peculiar to the money of Antiochus VIII. The
dates on these coins, it will be seen, range from the Seleu-
cian years 193 to 196, but of these the first only is new.
I have now passed in review every type, variety and
specimen comprised in the Tarsus " trouvaille " the result
will be found to be as follows :
Type. Var. Spec.
Coins of Demetrius II (Before his captivity) B. c. 146 138 222
Antiochus VII 138128 247
Demetrius II. (After his captivity) 128125 289
Alexander IF 125122 -1 1 1
Cleopatra and Antiochus VIII. 122120 1 8 19
Antiochus VIII. alone 120 96 4 42 101
By this tabular arrangement, it will be seen that the
" find " comprised, with three exceptions, a series of the
currency of all the kings of Syria who reigned from B. C.
146 to 96, embracing a period of exactly fifty years. The
three exceptions are, Antiochus VI (B. C. 144 to 142) ;
Tryphon (B.C. 142 to 138); and Seleucus V (B.C. 120).
The tetradrachrns of the two first are of excessive rarity, par-
ticularly those of the latter; of Seleucus V, antiquaries are of
opinion that we do not possess any numismatic monuments,
and, consequently, his portrait is unknown ; had any
amongst those of Tarsus been found bearing the name of
Seleucus they might have been reasonably supposed to have
belonged to him, but that not being the case it may be now
almost inferred, that none were coined by thnt unfortunate
56 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
monarch during the short space of time, which elapsed
between the assassination of his father Demetrius, and his
own death by order of his mother, the cruel and ambitious
Cleopatra. But this is a digression, our present business
is with those coins which were, and not with those which
were not found.
It has been justly observed by a high numismatic autho-
rity, that " coins are the most correct and valuable commen-
tators on coins," * and as regards those now in question, I
am inclined to think, that, by the application of that principle,
I shall be enabled to show, from their own evidence, the
precise year in which they were buried in the earth.
By a reference to the table in which I have given a
summary of the types, varieties and specimens, it will be
seen that the coins of Antiochus VIII, with, or without the
portrait of his mother, offer no less a proportion than 120
to 139; it may therefore be safely concluded that it was
during his reign (B. C. 125 to 96) that the treasure was de-
posited ; but, as the parcel does not include a single speci-
men of the money of his half-brother, Antiochus IX, who
reigned contemporaneously in Phoenicia, and Coele-Syria,
from B. C. Ill to 96, and, moreover, as it does include
specimens of those of Antiochus VIII, minted in the Phoeni-
cian city of Sidon in B. C. 116 -f- it is not unreasonable to
infer that our coins were placed in the earth between the
years B.C. 116 and 111.
I am, however, by no means inclined to rest satisfied
with this approximation to the date I seek. In the notice
of the reign of Antiochus VIII, in Dr. Smith's Biographical
* See the able paper on the Representations found on Ancient
Money, &c., in the Numismatic Journal, Vol. I., by Thomas
Burgon, Esq.
t See the coin described under No. 11, var. 4.
REGAL SYRIAN TETRA DRACHMS FOUND AT TARSUS. 57
Dictionary, it is observed, " For the next eight years (that
is, dating from B. c. 120) Antiochus reigned in peace, but,
at the end of that time, his half-brother, Antiochus IX
(Cyzicenus), the son of Antiochus VII (Sidetes), and their
common mother, Cleopatra, laid claim to the crown, and a
civil war ensued (B.C. 112) ..... In the first year
of the struggle, Antiochus Cyzicenus became master of the
whole of Syria, but in the next year (B.C. Ill), Antiochus
Grypus regained a considerable part of his dominions, and
it was then agreed that the kingdom should be shared
between them, Antiochus Cyzicenus having Coele-Syria and
Phoenicia, and Antiochus Grypus the remainder of the
provinces."
This historical evidence, coupled with that which has
been elicited from the monuments themselves, leads to the
conclusion that, although the annalist may be silent as
regards any event by which the city of Tarsus might be
supposed to be immediately compromised, still, as we know
that Cyzicenus was master of the whole of the Syrian em-
pire, in B. c. 112, it is not unreasonable to infer that it was
in that identical year, during the troubles arising out of the
civil wars between the brothers, that the treasure, upon
which we have been treating, was, with a view to its safety,
privately deposited in the earth, by some resident of
Tarsus, who, in all probability, did not survive the fierce
struggle then going on for empire.
In conclusion, I will only add, that all the unique speci-
mens, as well as a few varieties of each of the other types,
are included in the Greek portion of the numismatic col-
lection of my late brother. MAXIMILIAN BORRELL.
8, Camming Street, Pentonville, London.
February 3, 1852.
VOL. XV. I
58 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
IV.
GOLD MEDAL STRUCK TO COMMEMORATE THE
RAISING OF THE SIEGE OF STRALSUND,
IN THE YEAR 1628.
BY the kindness of the Hon. William Leslie Melville, we
are enabled to present our readers with an engraving of a
. medal which, if not unique, is of the first degree of rarity.
It was presented by Gustavus Adolphus to the ancestor of
that gentleman, Sir Alexander Leslie, afterwards first Earl
of Leven. The obverse bears a Pheon within a laurel gar-
land, and the legend
DEO. OPTIM. MAXIM. IMPER. ROMANO. FOEDERI.
POSTERISQ.
The reverse is occupied by an inscription, as follows, in
fourteen lines :
MEMORISE. VRBIS. STRALSVND^E. AO. MDCXXVIII.
DIE. XII. MAI. A. MILITE. CAESARIANO. CINCT^E.
ALIQVOTIES. OPPVGNAT^E. SED. DEI. GRATIA. ET.
OPE. INCLYTOR. REGVM. SEPTENTRIONAL. DIE.
XXIII. IVLI, OBSIDIONE. LIBERATE. S.P. Q. S. F. F.
The event which this medal was intended to commemo-
rate is matter of history, and need not here be reviewed.
The device of the Pheon, on the obverse, occurs on the
money of Stralsund, of which it is the arms, or cognizance,
and the double thaler, given by Kohler (vol. iv. p. 233), has
the same device, legend and inscriptions, but the medal
here described is not a servile copy of it, and would appear
to have been executed as a reward to persons who had
assisted at the raising of the siege.
/ ;-/. xv- p, f&,
GOLD MEDAL
Struck to recent the rntsm? eft-he Seiye ofStniivi/irt/,
59
MISCELLANEA.
DISCOVERY OF ROMAN COINS BETWEEN ROCHESTER AND MAID-
STONE. A short time since, a labourer, digging upon the hill
above Kit's Coty House, turned up an urn containing about 100
vsmall brass Roman coins, nearly all of which were obtained by
Mr. Humphrey Wickham, of Strood.
They are as follow :
Of the Constantine family, with one or two of ^ <*
Tetricus, and one of Magnentius . . J
Of Valentinian (two varieties) .... 20
Of Valens (two varieties) . . . . . . 41
Of Gratian (three varieties) . . . . .15
The coins of Valentinian and Valens, are entirely of the
" Gloria Romanorum," and " Securitas Reipublicsa " types ; those
of Gratian include these reverses with six of the " Gloria Novi
Saeculi " type.
The places of mintage of these three are chiefly Constantinople,
Lyons, Siscia and Aquileia, but not one of Treves. At this
period the mint of Treves is but seldom indicated upon the brass
coins. The gold coins of Magnus Maximus, and of other usurpers,
which bear the CON for Constantinople, must, notwithstanding,
be assigned to Treves, which was the chief seat of their brief
dominion, and one of the three towns of the province of Gaul
possessing imperial mints.
The coins described above were most probably deposited by
some soldier of the army of Magnus Maximus, when he passed
over from Britain into Gaul and defeated Gratian.
C. R. S.
A DENARIUS of the Rubria family, restored by Trajan, has
recently been picked up at Ixworth, in Suffolk.
Obv.The head of Juno ; behind it DOS.
Rev. A quadriga.
It is in the possession of Mr. Warren.
FIND OF ENGLISH COINS AT CALAIS. A small hoard of gold
coins was found at Calais, a few days since, in making excavations
for the new canal. The pieces consisted of an angelet of
Henry VII. ; four angelets of Henry VIII., all with the portcullis
60 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
mint-mark ; a half-crown (gold) also of Henry VIII., the rose on
one side, and the arms on the reverse, both accompanied by the
letters H. I., not crowned ; the latter letter is the initial of Jane,
the third wife of Henry. The coins passed into the cabinet of
Mr. A. Durand,
ROMAN COINS STRUCK IN THE MINT OF LONDON. --Having
paid a little attention to the coins of Constantine and his family,
it appeared to me probable that the series of London coins might
be greatly increased by the addition not only of the coins of
Carausius and Allectus, on which no one hesitates to read
M. L. Moneta Londini (percussa) ; but by coins of Diocletian,
Maximian, Constantius, Galerius. Maximiims Daza, Licinius, Con-
stantinus, Crispus and Constantius II, with the exergues PL ?
PLN, or MLN.
It is usual to class to Lugdunum or Lucdunum the coins bear-
ing PLC, often PLVC, and PLN. PLC is, I think, evidently a
contraction for P. LVC Percussa Lucduni, and PLN, in the same
way, for P. LON. Jobert gives LC as Lucduni, omits PLN,
and interprets PLON Percussa Lugduni Officina Nova. His
learned annotator, Bimard de la Bastie, admits, however, that
PLON certainly signifies Percussa Londini, and it is now univer-
sally allowed. Why then should we not have PLC and PLVC,
PLN and PLON ? We cannot suppose the letters C and N
to signify (Omcina) for C, if it were in the Latin system,
would be Centesima, N, Nona, and if in the Greek, C, Ducen-
tesima, N, Quinquagesima. LC, and LN, therefore, are the
constant quantities, and must signify "LVCdunwn and LONe&rawm.
An objection which suggested itself to me was, that in continen-
tal collections, for instance, in the imperial cabinet at Vienna,
according to Eckhel's catalogue, there were many coins bearing
PLN, and but five with PLON, which was in accordance with
the general statement, that these coins are rare out of England.
Last year, however, I obtained thirteen in Paris, and saw two or
three others. These coins, with PLN, besides, mostly belong to
an earlier period than those with the fuller legend PLON, those
of Constantine being generally struck during the life of Licinius,
when great quantities of coins were issued with the heads either
of Constantine or Licinius, though in great part from the mints
of Constantine. To this time belong the coins with SOLI IN-
VICTO. COMITI, which are still among the commonest coins
of Constantine, and such quantities having been issued, the coins
with PLN are still not uncommon anywhere, while those with
PLON, issued long afterwards, are not found in such quantities.
On coins of Carausius, then, we find ML, Moneta Londini
MISCELLANEA. 61
(percussa). Allectus, ML, or MSL, Moneta Signata Londini ;
or QL. We find also CL, but this, like C alone, pro-
bably stands for Clausentum. We should not expect to find,
on coins of Diocletianus and Maximianus, any mention of Lon-
don, and although MLXXXI is found on some coins of both
emperors, it is now agreed that they were struck by Carausius.
Eckhel (Cat. Mus. Vindob. II. 436, No. 206) describes a coin of
Diocletianus with PLN, but this coin, which has the title Senior,
was struck after his abdication, as is also that of Maximianus
(Lib. cit. 444, No. 215) or GENIO. POP. ROM. I am aware that
a second brass of Maximianus, reading LON, has been described
in the Chronicle. The obverse was not described, and I should
suppose, either that it, like the coin given by Eckhel, was struck
after his abdication, or that it is of Galerius Maximianus. It
has the same type as Eckhel's coin, but GENIO. POPVLI.
ROMANI. Coins of Constantius Chlorus are found with PLN,
which might be expected, if it denotes London. I find none of
Galerius with PLN in the Cat. Mus Vind. ; and, for want of
time, I confine myself to the coins in my own cabinet, and to this
work, although great extensions might be made to the list. A
second brass coin with LON has, howeA r er, been published,. I
have two of Maximinus Daza with PLN, and others are described.
I have also one of Licinius, struck in Constantine's mint. Many
coins of Constantine, in particular the coins with SOLI.
INVICTO. COMITI, have PLN. I am not aware of any pub-
lished coin of this type with PLON, but we may expect to find
such coins. Mr. Akerman has published one with MLON,
and I have one with MLN, which is certainly the same, and
strengthens my view. I need say nothing of the coins of Con-
stantine and his family with PLON, except to mention, that I
think the evidence of PLON on coins of Helena is an additional
confirmation to the attribution of Marchant. From the analogy
ML, MLN, MLON, we should expect some at least of the coins
bearing PL to belong to the London mint. From the difference
of style this might be decided by those who have access to large
collections, but it is out of my power. As a specimen of the cata-
logue of London coins we have, by my reading, I annex a descrip-
tion of all such coins in my cabinet.
1. CARAUSIVS. Obv.IMP. CARAVSIVS. P. F. AVG.
radiated bust to right.
R ev . PAX. AVG. Peace standing to
left. In field, S. P. In exergue,
MLXXI. M. 3.
62
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
2. ALLECTUS.
3. MAXIMUS DAZA.
4.
Obv. IMP. C. ALLECTVS. P. F. AVG.
Radiated bust to right.
Rev.VlRTVS. AVG. Galley. In ex-
ergue, QL. M. 3.
Obv. -GAL. VAL. MAXIMVS.NOB. C.
Laureated bust to right.
Rev. GENIO. POP. ROM. Genius
standing with patera and cornucopia.
In exergue, PLN. M. 2.
Obv. IMP. MAXIMINVS. P. F. AVG.
Laureated bust to right.
Rev. GENIO. POP. ROM. Genius as
above. In field, to right, a star. In
exergue, PLN. M. 3.
IMP. LICINIVS. P. F. AVG. Laureated
bust to right.
7^ V ._GENIO. POP. ROM. Genius as
above. In field, S. F. In exergue,
PLN. JE. 3.
G. CONSTANTINUS. Obv. CONSTANT1NVS. P. F. AVG.
Laureated bust to right.
2lev. ADVENTVS. AVG. Constantine
on horseback to left, his right hand
raised, in his left, a spear. Under the
horse's feet, a captive. In exergue,
PLN. &. 3.
5. LICINIUS.
79.
Obv. IMP. CONSTANTINVS. P. F.
AVG. Laureated bust to right.
Rev. SOLI. INVICTO. COMITI. The
sun standing, holding a globe. In
field, T. F. In exergue, PLN. JE. 3.
Three examples.
Obv. IMP. CONSTANTINVS
Laureated bust to right.
AVG.
Rev. Same legend and type. In field,
S. F. In Exergue, PLN. ^E. 3.
MISCELLANEA. 63
11. . . . Obv. Same.
Rev. Same legend and type. In field,
S. F. In exergue, MLN. M. 3.
12. . . . Ofo. CONSTANTINVS. AVG. Bust
of Constantinus to right, his head
laureated, in his right hand a sceptre
surmounted by an eagle.
Rev. BEATA. TRANQVILLITAS. A
cippus, on which, VOTIS. XX. Above,
a globe, and three stars. In exergue,
PLON.
13. CRISPUS. Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Lau-
reated bust to right.
Rev. SOLI. INVICTO. COMITI. Sun
standing, with a globe. In field, a
crescent. In exergue, PLN. M. 3,
as are all the following.
14. ... Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Helmed
bust to right.
Rev. Type as No. 12, but ruder work-
manship. In exergue, PLON.
15. . . Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Helmed
bust of Crispus to right, in his right
hand a spear pointing backwards, in
his left a shield before him.
Rev. BEAT.TRANQLITAS. (sic). Type
as above. In exergue, PLON.
16. 17. . Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Helmed
bust of Crispus to left.
Rev. As the last, but fine workmanship.
In exergue, PLON.
I have two, differing only in the
ornaments on the helmet.
18. . . . Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Bust of
Crispus, to left, with laureated head,
holding spear and shield before him.
Rev. As the last. In exergue, PLON.
64 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
19. . . . Obv. CRISPVS. NOBIL. C. Bust of
Crispus to left, with laureated head,
protecting himself with a shield.
Rev. As the last. In field, F. B. In
exergue, PLON.
20-22. CONSTANTINUS II. Obv. CONSTANTINVS. IVN.
NOB. C. Laureated bust to right.
Rev. PROVIDENTIAE. CAESS. Prae-
torian camp. In exergue, PLON.
I possess three, all slightly different.
One, which is of good fabric, has
the exergue legend so curved as to
complete the circle of the legend.
2325 . . . Obv. CONSTANTINVS. IVN. N. C.
Bust to left, with radiated crown.
Rev. BEAT. TRANQLITAS. Cippus,
as usual. In field, F. B. In exergue,
PLON.
Three specimens, all differing in the
dress.
26, 27 ... Obv, Same.
Rev. BEATA. TRANQVILLITAS.
Same type. In field, F. B. In ex-
ergue, PLON.
Two specimens, one of which has a
very small head.
2831. . . Obv. CONSTANTINVS. IVN. N. C.
Bust to left, with helmed head.
Rev. BEAT. TRANQLITAS. Cippus, as
usual. In field, F. B. In exergue,
PLON.
Four specimens, nearly the same.
32. ... Obv. CONSTANTINVS. IVN. N. C.
Bust to left, with radiated head.
Rev. V1RTVS. EXERCIT. Banner,
on which VOT. XX., between two
captives. In exergue, PLN.
V.
REMARKABLE INDO-SASSANIAN COIK
MY DEAR SIR,
I send you herewith a drawing of a coin
I wish you to insert in the Numismatic Chronicle, with a
view to soliciting the aid of your supporters in contributing
impressions of any similar specimens to be found in their
cabinets.
The subject of Sassanian influence in India, its epoch.,
and the boundaries over which Zoroastrian belief extended,
is fraught with high interest in itself ; but it possesses an
enhanced claim upon our attention in the light it promises
to throw upon the anterior, or Scythic, period of Indian
history.
Up to this time, we have but scant materials, either
legendary or monumental., whereby to illustrate the first-
named question, and we dare scarcely hope that numis-
matic science can do much to help our cause, as the
number and variety of Indo-Sassanian coins are clearly
limited. The piece about to be described, however, places
us a material step in advance; and Indian annals have
Ilready received such great and un-hoped for elucidation
VOL. XV. K
66 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
from this section of antiquarian research, that we have a
right here also to augur well for our future.
The coin of which the accompanying engraving is a
facsimile,, presents us with a strictly Rajput name im-
pressed upon the surface of a piece of money of a purely
Sassanian type. I will not at present venture into the
ample field of speculation this association opens out, but
content myself with noticing the bare fact, trusting that
your call for new specimens, may succeed in drawing forth
from dark corners, other coins of this class, thus securing
an extended circle of medallic data, from which to deduce
more comprehensive and legitimate inference than the
evidence of a single piece admits of.
The coin under review was obtained by Major Nuthall,
of the Bengal Army during a late march to Peshawur. It
is of silver, and weighs 52 grains. The obverse here
represented/ bears the name of
Raja Pam a ? -f- Udayaditya.
The reverse surface presents a mere blank, retaining
only slight traces of ever having received an impression.
I am, etc.,
EDWARD THOMAS.
* The original is in imperfect preservation especially as re-
gards the neck of the figure I have left the letters composing
the legend unshaded, in order to render more exactly their true
form.
t Major Kittoe suggests the reading of *T3L Maha, in which I
am greatly disposed to concur, but the outlines of the two doubt-
ful letters that appear on the present coin do not altogether justify
tins interpretation.
67
VI.
MEMOIR OF JOHANN CROCKER, CHIEF ENGRAVER
AND MEDALLIST OF THE ENGLISH MINT DURING
THE REIGNS QUE ANNE, AND THE KINGS
GEORGE I. AND II.
JOHANN CROCKER was a native of Saxony, born at Dresden
on the 21st of October, 1670. It appears that he accom-
modated his name to Croker, as more suitable to the
English pronounciation. On a medal of Queen Anne,
struck in commemoration of the battle of Blenheim in 1704,
he spells his name CROKER. The original design of
that medal exists in the manuscript department of the
British Museum, in a volume called " The Designs of John
Croker," which Mr. Hawkins had the goodness to point
out to me ; it contains, besides many original designs for
medals by Croker, also thirty autographs of Sir Isaac
Newton as master of the Mint.
This interesting and very valuable volume has only of
late been procured for the Museum by purchase at the sale
of Mr. Alchorne's MSS.
I have observed in that volume, that in all the orders of
the Mint from the year 1718, referring to the approval by
the director for the execution of those medals after the
design by Croker, and of which seven are preserved in
the volume, the name of that artist is always spelt CROCKER,
For instance :
68 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
" Mint-Office, October 2nd, 1718.
"Having perused what is above depicted for the re-
verse of a medal upon the defeat of the Spanish fleet near
Sicily, by Sir George Byng, we do approve thereof, and
authorise Mr. Crocker to finish the same.
"Wm. Thompson.
"Is. Newton.
" Martin Bleeden."
On documents of other years we find the name spelt
Croker.
The father of our artist, who was a distinguished wood-
carver and cabinetmaker to the Electoral Court of Saxony,
died, leaving him very young, with several other still
younger children. Happily, however, his mother, whose
maiden name was Rosina Frauenlaub, took great care of
their education, as Croker in later years often mentioned
with gratitude. When he had attained a sufficient age, his
godfather, who was a near relation, and an eminent gold-
smith and jeweller at Dresden, having observed his talents,
took him as an apprentice to himself.
Young Croker proved very industrious, and soon made
great progress. There is so much affinity between the art of
jewellery and of goldsmith's work on the one hand, and that
of die-sinking and medal engraving on the other, that
Croker was led at an early age to devote his leisure hours
to this latter occupation, and for that purpose endeavoured
to improve his knowledge of drawing and modelling.
Notwithstanding the progress that he made, he still thought
it advisable to consider these studies merely as secondary,
until an opportunity should offer itself for turning them to
account. After the expiration of his apprenticeship, he
commenced travelling in the practice of his profession, and
visited most of the great towns of Germany.
MEMOIR OF JOHAKN CROCKER. 69
He afterwards went to Holland, and thence to England,
where he arrived towards the end of the year 1691. He
there engaged himself to an eminent jeweller, and applied
himself so zealously to his profession, as to obtain in a few
years the reputation of a skilful master.
He did not however neglect any opportunity of improv-
ing himself in medal engraving, and the progress he had
already made so stimulated his desire for distinction, that
he resolved to apply more time to the art, and was so suc-
cessful in his studies that he at length adopted, as his
principal profession, that which he had formerly regarded
only as a secondary occupation. After working for some
time exclusively as a medallist, Croker became known in
that capacity to many influential persons, particularly to
those who had the administration of the royal Mint.
In token of the high opinion entertained both of his
diligence and ability, he was appointed in 1697 an assistant
to the chief engraver of the Mint.
Owing to the unusually large amount of the silver coinage
required at that time, Croker was overwhelmed with work
which with all his talent and application, he found it very
difficult to complete ; indeed the conduct of such a business
as the Mint was no small trial for a beginner. Such
however was his activity and skill, and with such faithful-
ness and unwearied diligence did he discharge his duty,
that he soon gained the esteem of all his superiors. As it
happened at that period that the chief engraver was pre-
vented by circumstances from giving more than a general
inspection to the operations of the Mint, the practical
execution of his work was soon entrusted to Croker; so
that the business may be said to have been conducted jointly
by them. This arrangement continued during the remain-
der of the reign of William III., from which period we
70 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
have a medal by Croker in commemoration of the peace of
Ryswick.
After the accession of Queen Anne in 1672, the first
production on which he was engaged was the coronation
medal. It is also required of the chief engraver of the royal
Mint, to make the original dies for all the obverses of the
standard coins which consisted at that time of fourteen
varieties,, four in gold, eight in silver, and two in copper.
It may be easily conceived how much labour and diligence
was required for the accomplishment of such a task,
especially at the beginning of a new reign. Croker, how-
ever, by his indefatigable industry performed it to the
entire satisfaction of his superiors. After the decease of
the chief engraver, which happened in 1705, Croker, by a
diploma dated the 7th of April of the same year, was
nominated to the office. About the same time he took to
himself a wife, and like Esau, took one of the daughters of
the land, marrying a Miss Franklin, of a well-known family
in England, with whom he lived thirty years in matrimonial
bliss. She died in 1735, having had only one daughter,
who died young.
Having a nephew at Dresden named Maurer, who was a
skilful seal-engraver and die-sinker, Croker applied to him
to come over and join him in London. His prosperous
marriage contributed much to his general happiness, and to
that serenity of mind so necessary to the successful per-
formance of the duties of his office. He was also still in
the enjoyment of the full vigour of life.
Early in the reign of Queen Anne, England became
involved in a war which was however distinguished by so
many gallant and glorious actions, that abundant oppor-
tunities occurred for the execution of medals to commemo-
rate these achievements, as well as upon other occasions
MEMOIR OF JOHANN CROCKER. 71
connected with state events, so that during this reign, though
of little more than twelve years' duration, twenty-nine
different medals were brought out by Croker, besides many
other designs begun by him, but which having been rejected
by the authorities were never executed.
Although he availed himself now and then of the aid of
an assistant, his activity and diligence are still deserving
of admiration, in finding so much time to devote to the
execution of medals without neglecting the regular and
highly important duties of the Mint.
At the commencement of the reign of George I., in 1714,
the labours of Croker were increased by the demand for the
immediate preparation of the coronation medal, and others
connected with the accession of that monarch to the throne ;
for instance, the medal of his arrival in England. The
original designs of both medals are also in that interesting
volume above mentioned. A change was also necessary in the
entire coinage of the realm. The peace of Utrecht, which
brought a large quantity of gold and silver into the Mint,
doubled for several years the business of coinage. Notwith-
standing this difficulty, nine medals executed by Croker's
own hand, appeared during the reign of George I., which
lasted scarcely thirteen years. The original designs of seven
of these medals are also preserved in the volume.
Though the increase of years was by no means observable
in his works, yet the authorities of the Mint determined to
relieve him in his old age, and they accordingly chose a
young man of good family, patronised by the king and the
government, with the intention of giving him to Croker
as an apprentice and assistant.
Scarcely, however, had he arrived to do service in that
capacity, when death made void his intention, before he had
derived the expected benefit from his instructor. Croker
72 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
was therefore obliged to take upon himself once more the
entire burden of business, commencing immediately after
the accession of George II., in 1727, with the coronation
medal of his Majesty and Queen Caroline, and afterwards
resuming into his own hands, not merely the general super-
intendence of the Mint, but the execution of all the obverses
for the dies of the current coins. And though an endeavour
was again made to procure a second assistant for him, this
was not accomplished until the year 1729.
Activity had become so essential to Croker as to be
almost second nature, and he could not remain without occu-
pation ; he accordingly very seldom availed himself of any
assistance, especially in the ordinary business of the Mint.
He executed with his own hand all the five medals pub-
lished during his life time in George the Second's reign,
employing occasionally an assistant for the reverses.
Happily he possessed even in his old age an unusually
fine eyesight, and enjoyed in general excellent health, which
enabled him to fulfil to the last his duties to the crown,
which he had served so long and so zealously. This con-
tinued until the last two years of his life, when the inevitable
infirmities of old age made their appearance; not however
so severely as to confine him to his bed, so Croker might
not complain, so much as to say,
Das Gllick ist cine leichte Dime,
Und weilt nicht gern am selben Ort;
Sie streicht das Haar dir von der Stirne
Und kiiszt dich rasch und flattert fort.
Fran Ungliick hat im Gegentheile
Dich liebefest ans Herz gedruckt;
Sie sagt sie habe keinc Eile,
Setzt sich zu dir ans Bett und striekt.
MEMOIR OF JOHANN CROKER. 73
The fatigues of business, however, had exhausted nature,
and he became gradually weaker. Notwithstanding which,
he occupied himself occasionally in the superintendence of
his department, employing the remainder of his time in
reading instructive and devotional books; and though
throughout life he had never, even when most laboriously
engaged, neglected the duties of religion, he now devoted
himself more exclusively to such thoughts. In this praise-
worthy manner he ended his life on the 21st of March, 1741,
at the age of 71. He left behind him the reputation of an
honest man, a good Christian, and a faithful and diligent
servant of the crown of England.
Some of Croker's medals are fine, and we may also call
to recollection the various well known and beautiful patterns
for the farthings of Queen Anne which were made by him.
When we consider how much he was occupied with the
preparation of the current coinage during four successive
reigns, we cannot but admire his diligence in having
executed such a number of medals.
With regard to medals for foreign princes, or eminent
private persons, only one can be proved to be his work,
namely that of Sir Isaac Newton.
The reason of this may be, that Croker went early into
the royal service, which precluded his making medals for
any other employer than the British government without a
special permission, which was not always easily obtained.
We may soon expect, in a work on the Medals of Great
Britain, by Edward Hawkins, Esq., a description of all the
medals known to have been executed by Croker.
J. G. PFISTER.
VOL. xiv.
74 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
VII.
INEDITED ROMAN COINS.
[Eead before the Numismatic Society, March 25th, 1852.]
The following list of Roman Coins includes two or
three which have been published in foreign works but
little, if at all, known in this country. The others, it is
believed, are entirely inedited.
GALLIENUS, Billon or third brass.
OJv. GALLIENVS. AVG. Eadiated head.
Rev. HERCVLI. CONS. AVG. A lion walking to the
left. C. R. S.
TETRICUS THE FATHER. Third brass.
Ofo. IMP.TETRIC . . . Radiated head of Tetricus to the
right.
Rev .... SAVG. The Emperor on horseback. C. R. S.
It appears to have been silvered.
Obv. IMP. TETRICVS P.AVG. As above.
Rev. PAX .... A female standing, holding two military
standards. C. R. S.
Obv. IMP. C. TETRICVS P.F. AVG. Laureated head ;
bust in armour to the right.
Rev. P.M. TR.P. COS. II. A trophy.
In the collection of Mr. Henry Norris, of South Petherton.
Obv. -IMP. C. . . TRICVS. P. F. AVG. Radiated head to
right,
R ev . . . X CS. A female figure standing, holding in the
left arm a cornucopia ; her right hand seems extended
over a basket of fruit.
INEDITED ROMAN COINS. 75
Obv. RICVS P.F. AVG. The heads of the two
Tetrici side by side.
Rev. HIARITAS (sic) AVG. A female figure with palm
branch and cornucopia.
Found near Witham, in Essex. Mr. Patisson.
TETRICUS THE SON. Third brass.
Obv. CAESAR. TETRICVS. AVG. Small youthful head,
radiated ; bust naked.
Rev. LA . . . AVG. Retrograde. A woman standing, prob-
ably Lsetitia.
In the cabinet of Lord Londesborough.
Obv. ETRICVS. CAI. Radiated head to the right.
Rev. CXQIVIA ( CALIVIA ?) Anubis in
a temple of six columns. C. R. S.
Obv. C.PIVESA. TETRICVS. CAE. As preceding ; bust
loricated.
Rev. VIRTVS. AVG. A soldier with shield and spear.
This coin is unusually thick. C. R. S.
CLAUDIUS GOTHICUS. Third brass.
Obv. IMP. C.M. AVR. CLAVDIVS. AVG. Radiated
head to the right ; bust in the paludamentum.
Rev. PAX. AETERNA. A female standing, holding in the
right hand an olive branch ; in the left a hasta pura.
In the exergue, SPQR. C. R. S.
Tanini gives a similar reverse to an obverse reading
DIVO CLAVDIO.
AvRELIANUS. Third brass.
Obv. IMP. AVRELIANVS. AVG. Radiated head of the
Emperor to the right.
ey. AETERNITAS. AVG. Wolf and twins. C. R. S.
PROBUS. Medallion, brass gilt.
Obv. IMP. C. PROBVS. AVG. Bust of the Emperor to
the left ; head radiated. On the left arm a shield,
the right hand holding a horse by the rein.
76 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
fi ev . PROBVS. CONS. II. The Emperor in a quadriga
crowned by Victory ; on either side a soldier bearing a
palm branch.
The reverse occurs in Tanini to a different obverse.
From the Duke of Devonshire's sale. C.R. S.
DJOCLETIANUS. Second brass.
Obv. DIOCLETIANUS. NOB. C. Laureated head of the
emperor to the right.
R eVt GENI .... LI. ROMANI. Genius standing.
In the collection of M. de la Fontaine.
Found at a place called Petzel, near Dalheim, on the
line of the old Roman road by the left bank of the Moselle
from Metz to Treves. It is engraved (pi. 11. fig. 1.), in
the "Publications de la Societe pour la recherche et la
conservation des Monuments Historiques dans le Grand-
Duche de Luxembourg" (1847): a well-conducted work,
but almost unknown in this country.*
M. Senckler, who first noticed this [coin, anticipates
objections against its being considered other than an error
of the moneyer, and suggests that it may have been struck
* This work contains a digested account, by M. A. Senckler,
of the discovery of a very large number of second and third
brass Roman coins, among which was this of Diocletian.
They were found by a labourer, deposited in three great urns,
and amounted in all to about 24,000. Upwards of 14,000 have
been examined and catalogued by M. Senckler. They extend
from Diocletian to Constantine inclusive, and contain a few rare
reverses, as for instance, the Utilitas PuUica and Providentice
Augg. (two figures), types of the Aries Mint of Constantine.
There are single specimens only of Carausius, Allectus, and Domi-
tius Domitianus. One of Maximian, in second brass, bears the
Mint mark LON. The mintages of Treves, as might have been
expected, are the most numerous ; Lyons comes next, especially if
we transfer to the mint of that city those marked PLN (2026 in
number), which M. Senckler, erroneously I think, assigns to
London.
INEDITED ROMAN COINS. 77
immediately after the death of Numerian and before the
murder of Carinus, and that, in deference to the rights of
the latter, he at first only took the title of Caesar. But
whether this may have been the fact or not, coins reading
Concordia Caes. Augg. NN., shew that Diocletian and
Maximian were styled Caesars, and inscriptions confirm
their joint use of this title.
MAXIMIANUS. Third brass (size of the quinarius).
Obv. MAXIMIANVS. P. AVG. Laureated head to the
right.
Rev. MAXIMIANVS. N.C. Laureated head of Galerius
Maximianus to the left.
From the hoard above mentioned. In the collection of
M. de la Fontaine.
CONSTANTINUS. Silver Medallion.
Obv. Without epigraph. Diademed head.
Rev. DN. CONSTANTINVS 1 In two lines in the field of
MAX TRIVMF. AVG. j the coin.
In the exergue : MCONSI. A female figure turretted
and veiled, seated in a chair and holding a cornucopia ; her
feet placed upon the prow of a galley.
In the Treves collection.
CONSTANTIUS. Gold Medallion.
Obv.FL. IVL. CONSTANTIVS. P.F. AVG. Diademed
head.
.to. VIRTVS. EXERCITVM (sic). The Emperor wearing
the paludamentum, standing between two captives
seated upon the ground ; in his right hand he holds a
trophy; in the left an oval shield. In the exergue, TES.
In the Treves collection.
These medallions are engraved in the "Jahrbucher des
Vereins von Alterthumsfreunden," iv. Bonn, 1844.
78 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
VALENTINIANUS. In gold.
Obv. DN. VALENTINIANVS. P.F. AVG. Galeated head
and loricated bust of the emperor to the left ; in the
right hand a javelin; in the left a shield. The helmet
is ornamented with four stars; upon the shield is
sculptured a horseman transfixing a prostrate foe.
T^.VICTORES. AVGVSTI. Two seated figures, un-
equal in stature, hoi ding a globe, and crowned by Victory
flying above them. In the exergue TR. OB. C. R. S.
In Rasche, vol.v. partii. p. 11 94, a coin of Valens in the
d'Ennery catalogue 240 is cited, which has a reverse pre-
cisely similar; and another of Valens in the Treves collection
is engraved in the "Jahrbiicher des Vereins von Alterthums-
freunden," vol. iv. On comparing the engraving of the
latter with the above unique coin of Valentinian, I observe
that they correspond in the most minute details both as
regards the costume of the emperors and the treatment of
the group on the reverse. They were, therefore, it may
be inferred, struck at Treves at the same time, by order
of Valentinian, probably soon after the defeat of the
Alemanni by himself and Gratian, and when the successes
of Valens in the East, and of Theodosius in Britain gave
the three Augusti full claims to the title of Victores. Valens
and Gratian were created Augusti, not Ccesares, by Valen-
tinian, who by so doing departed, Ammianus states, from
the ancient practice ; " Valentinianus morein institutum
antiquitas supergressus, non Csesares, sed Augustos germa-
num nuncupavit et filium, benevole satis. Neque enim
quisquam antehac ascivit sibi pari potestate collegam,
prseter Principem Marcum." Ausonius makes the Danube
address Valentinian and Gratian :
" Salvere Augustos jubeo, natumque, patremque."
Epig. iii.
INEDITED ROMAN COINS. 79
That Gratian is intended to be represented by the smaller
figure of the two on the reverse of our coin, is most probable.
It was minted at Treves,the place of residence of Valentinian
and Gratian, and doubtless under the direction, or with the
approbation of Valentinian ; and at the same time a similar
compliment was paid to Valens, then engaged in the East in
a war with the Goths. Valentinian lost no opportunity of
bringing his youthful son prominently forward, and he shared
with him the credit of subduing the Alemanni almost
immediately after he had made him Augustus. We may
almost take the reverse of our coin as an illustration of the
poet's figurative allusion to Gratian's honours :
*' Tu quoque ab aerio prsepes Victoria lapsu,
Come serenatam cluplici diademate frontem."
Ausonii Epig. 1 .
I hope, ere long, to be able to extend this list of rare and
unpublished Roman coins.
C. ROACH SMITH.
Impressions from two British coins in electrum are
forwarded. They were found on the west coast of Sussex.
1. Obv. [TINC.] Rev. A horseman; below C.F.
2. Obv. | Rev. A horse ; below REX.
Also, an impression of an aureus of Florianus said to
have been recently found at Deddington in Oxfordshire.
J^.CONSERVATOR. AVG. The sun in a quadriga.
This rare coin is now in the possession of Mr. Cove Jones.
80 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
VIII.
MEDAL PRESENTED TO SIR ROBERT WELCH.
IN the Numismatic Chronicle, vol. xiv. p. 42, and No. 72,
is described a medal of Charles I. bearing portraits of
himself and his son ; the reverse being exactly the same as
the obverse. It is there stated " that it was probably given
for military service, and executed upon some emergency
when the artist had not time to bestow his accustomed
labour upon it." The documents now produced which are
preserved in the College of Arms, will shew for what object
these medals were executed, and what was the device of the
reverse of the original medal.
It is probable that after the dies had served the especial
purpose for which they had been executed, medals, having
two impressions of the obverse soldered together, such as
are described in the place refered to, were made, of different
metals, to be presented to officers as occasion required.
lt Whereas Sir Robert Walch, knight, has produced a warrant
under the Royal Sign Manual of King Charles the First, of ever
blessed memory, whereby the said king granted unto the said
Sir Robert a medal of gold with the figure of the said king and
of his son (then Prince Charles), with such motto as is in the said
Warrant mentioned, which he has prayed may be entred on
record in the College of Arms, together with such other papers
and warrants as relate thereto -. these are to authorise and
require you or any of you to whom these presents shall come
N . .' ..
MEDAL PRESENTED TO SIR ROB T WELCH.
by Charles tke First
MEDAL PRESENTED TO SIR R. WELCH. 81
to cause entry to be made of the said badge, granted as aforesaid
to the said Sir Robert Walch on record in the said office of
arms, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.
" Given under my hand and the seal of my office of Earl Marshall
of England, the fourteenth day of August, 1685 anno R.R.
Jacobi Secti nunc Anglise etc. primo.
" Signed thus,
" NORFOLKE AND MARSHALL.
" To the King' s Heralds and Pursuivants of Arms, or to
" the Registrar of the College of Arms."
" CHARLES R.
. tf Our will and pleasure is that you make a medal in gold
for our trusty and well-beloved Sir Robert Welch, knight, with
our own figure and that of our dearest sonne Prince Charles. And
on the reverse thereof to insculp y e form of our Royal Banner
used at the battail of Edge-hill, where he did us acceptable
service, and received the dignity of knighthood from us; and
to inscribe about it Per Regale Mandatum Caroli Regis hoc
assignatur Roberto Welch Militi. And for so doing this shall be
your sufficient warrant.
" Given at Our Court at Oxford this first day of June, 1648.
" To our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Rawlins,
" our Graver of Seals and Medals"
VOL XV. M
82 NUMISMATIC CHRON1CLR.
IX.
AFRICAN REGAL COINS.
FOR a long time there has been known a class of coins
bearing on one side a bearded head to left, on the other a
horse at full speed to left. They have been variously classed,
sometimes to Spain, sometimes to Carthage, sometimes to
Panormus under the Carthaginians, and occasionally to
Juba I. of Numidia, as has been done by M. Barry, of
Toulouse' 1 M. Duchalais, in an exceedingly able and
interesting memoir, 2 which I much regret being unable
here to consult, has, however, classed them to uncertain
kings of Numidia, and I have been sufficiently fortunate to
identify two of these kings. This class of coins appears
particularly suited to the ingenuity of forgers, as many
specimens altered and retouched have been published by
various authors. The coin attributed to Munda, 3 is, accord-
to Sestini, similar to No. 7 of this catalogue, on which the
horse has been converted into a sphinx, and the letters
MVNDA added on obverse. Florez 4 has published another
under Osca Bseticge, which Eckhel classed to Osca Tar-
1 Notice sur quelques Medailles Numides et Mauritamennes.
2 Memoires de la Soci6te des Antiquaires de France.
Tom. xix.
3 Florez TaK Ixiii. 11. 4 Florez Tab. Ixiv. 13.
N U M . CH RO N . Vol. XV:/y (92,
10
AFRICAN REGAL COINS
AFRICAN REGAL COINS. 83
raconensis. Sestini, 5 however, points out that it belongs
to this class, and mentions a similarly adulterated coin in
the French cabinet, where it still remains under Osca
Baeticae. Sestini himself 6 publishes and engraves two
coins, one reading SACILI, the other bearing two Punic
characters, which he read "Jtf, classing the coin to Sacili,
from the resemblance to the first. M. de Saulcy has, in
his Essai de Classification, attributed this coin to Sacili,
reading the legend as a monogrammatic expression of
SAKL. Both these readings appear erroneous, and are
founded on the attribution to Sacili, dependent on the
exactitude of the former coin with SAOILI. I think, how-
ever, thai this coin is only another falsified specimen of
the class alluded to. I saw last year in the French
cabinet a coin exactly similar to that engraved by
Sestini (Tab. iii. 7), from the Hedervar cabinet, but which
was false, and marked as such. From seeing also a
specimen of the coin of Sacili engraved by him (Tab. iii. 6),
which also was false ; and knowing that the French cabinet
had acquired many coins from the Hedervar collection, I
was led to infer that these were the specimens engraved by
Sestini. These coins, if existing genuine, are of very
great rarity at all events, if not unique, since Mr. Akerman 7
was obliged to quote them from Sestini only, and affixed
to them R 8. On the tickets accompanying them in each
instance, there was written " Fausse.Moulae sur Carthage/'
showing that their African origin had been recognised.
Even should these coins not be the Hedervar specimens,
still they serve to throw doubts on their authenticity.
5 Medaglie Ispane, p. 78.
6 Medaglie Ispane, p. 82, Tab. iii. 6, 7.
7 Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes, p. 53.
84 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Sestini 8 of course classes to Sacili all other coins with
these types which, however, are frequently found in Africa.
Shaw 9 has engraved a specimen as of Juba I. Paruta 10
has given two under Panormus. Combe engraves one ; u
and Wise 12 has given one. Mionnet (Description. Tom. 1.
p. 273, Nos. 546, 547, 552 and 553), has described several
under Panormus, and two are given in the Catalogue
Wellenheim, Nos. 1050, 1050 a. These are, so far as I can
at present find, all the references to this class of coins.
The general types are :
Obv. Bearded, sometimes laureated, head of the Numidian
Hercules to the left.
R. Horse galloping to left.
Usually there is a single pellet below the horse, some-
times three, as No. 6. Some, however, of higher interest,
bear two or three Numidian letters. The coins described
are all in my collection, unless otherwise marked.
GALA KING OF THE MASSYLI.
1. Obv. Bearded laureated head of Hercules to left.
R. Horse galloping to left. Below two Punic letters
This coin, if my reading and classification be accepted,
heads the class of regal coins of Numidia. Some of those
without legends may be earlier, but cannot of course be
8 Medaglie Ispane, p. 83, Nos. 3, 4, 5.
9 Travels in the Mediterranean. Appendix plate at p. 60,
No. 1C.
10 Grcevii Thesaurus Sicilise vi. plate 18, Nos. 175, 179.
11 Mus. Hunter, Tab. xv. 9.
12 Nummi Bodleiani, Nummi incerti, No. 1,
AFRICAN REGAL COINS. 85
classed. Gesenius 13 from Numidian inscriptions, calls him
Mezetbal, or Mezetulus, and says Gala, signifying pre-
server, was but a surname. He was, however, known to
the Romans by his surname alone. There is nothing
improbable in supposing him more generally known by a
surname than by his family name, which would, however, be
used in inscriptions, where the context, " Micipsa, son of
Massinissa, son of Mezetbal," would sufficiently show
who was meant.
HlEMPSAL II., SON OF HlEMPSAL I. (?)
2. Obv. Bare bearded head to left.
R. Horse galloping to left. Below, three Punic letters =
MPI. ^ 7J.
3. Obv. A similar head, but in a very different style.
R. Horse galloping to left. Below, litteris fugientibus
() DPI. & 8.
Mr. Chaumont possesses a similar specimen, on which
are seen the two last letters ^ also, however, fugitive.
Gesenius 14 gives from Numidian inscriptions the native
form of Hiempsal, as /JD&^ftDH Hikemsbal or 7JDMP1.
Hikembal, made wise by God. The Greeks turned it
into r Ja/A^a?, 'Idfjutya/jbos, and r le/-njra\a9.
If I remember rightly, M. Duchalais quotes the Synopsis 15
of Arneth, as containing a coin of Hiempsal, but without
description.
In the Prospectus 16 issued by Messrs. Falbe and Lindberg
p. 8, mention is made of coins of Hiempsal II., with
13 Monumenta Phoenicia, p. 201.
14 Monumenta Phoenicia, p. 198. Inser. Numid. Tab. xxi.
15 Synopsis Nuinorum Grsecormn Mus. Cses. Vindob.
16 Prospectus d'un Oiwrage sur les Medailles de 1'Afrique.
86 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
which these very possibly agree. These coins are different
in style, and may possibly belong to different kings,
although from the short reign of Hiempsal I., I should
hardly expect coins of him to be found. In the Prospectus
above mentioned, I find, however, mention of coins of
Hiempsal 1. struck at Simithu. I incline to suppose that
these, as well as the coins of Micipsa, struck at Simithu,
are specimens similar to those engraved by Gesenius
Tab.xlii. D. bis to L, which he read &?> Dpft place of the
sun. One, however (Tab. xlii. H.), appears to read fe?p,
and is possibly the coin classed to Micipsa. Falbe would
appear to prefer the name SlfiurOov, given by Ptolemy to
Simithu. I think such coins of this type as I have seen,
appeared to me more probably struck about the time
of Juba II. than earlier. I believe Duchalais has adverted
to them. Thomsen also, in the catalogue of the Frost
collection, has classed them to Juba II., as has Gesenius .
Mr. Drummond Hay, to whom belonged the specimens
now in the Museum of the Scottish Antiquaries, came to
the same conclusion, from the comparison of those he
possessed, acquired while consul at Tangier.
4. Obv. Bare bearded head to left.
ft. Horse galloping- to left. Below two Punic letters fa
M 7-J. Mr. Chaumont.
The first letter is not altogether certain, but is analogous
to a form in Gesenius, p. 34, No. 10.
5. Obv. Laureated bearded head to left.
ft. Horse galloping to left. Below, two Punic letters =
p. <& "i- Sestini Med. Isp. Tab. iii. 8.
Akerman, p. 53, No. 7.
This is the coin before mentioned, as classed by Sesti'ni
AFRICAN REGAL COINS.
87
and De Saulcy to Sacili. I have a specimen, but with
beardless head, in which the first letter has been effaced by
a contusion, suffered during circulation, as is evident from
the surface. I am unable to class either of these coins. I am
however disposed to read for p > *p which Gesenius has
shown to be the Punic form of *y?ft king, and on No. 4 T?
Lacumaces? This coin appears very common as, if I may
trust my notes taken from the Memoir of Duchalais, the
French Cabinet possesses eight similar to No. 5, besides
one in lead, and only four or five belonging to the other
classes. Only one bore the legend alluded to, however, out of
upwards of fifty which I have examined.
6. Obv. Laureated bearded head to left.
R. Horse trotting to left. Above, a large star. Below,
two Punic letters, of which the first % only is legible.
7. Obv. Bare beardless head to left.
R Horse trotting to left. Above, a large star. Below,
three pellets. JE 7.
Sestini 17 describes a similar coin to No. 7, but with
diademed head. Duchalais 18 describes a coin, different
from either 6 or 7, but very analogous.
" 16. Obv. Tete d'Hercule a gauche, ceinte d'un diademe;
audessous du col un globule.
R. Cheval trottant a gauche; audessus, un astre rayon -
nant ; audessous, trois caracteres Pheniciens."
On No. 6 there appears only room for two letters, and on
No. 7 there are three pellets only. Unfortunately, my notes
l f Medaglie Ispane, p. 83, No. 6.
18 Medailles de Numidie. Mem. Soc Ant. de France, torn.
xix.
88 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
do not contain the Punic letters, and I do not remember
whether they were given by him. These two coins 6 and 7*
are thin, and apparently considerably later than the pre-
ceding. Sestini thought the pellets denoted uncise, as on
the Roman coins. It is, however, opposed to this view
that the coins with a single pellet are always larger and
heavier than those with three. This remark derives support
from those coins classed by the Due de Luynes to Syphax. 19
I have found it difficult, however, to convince myself of the
correctness of this classification. One objection is, the
great similarity of the legend to that of Juba, while I have
given above intermediate coins bearing only the name of
the prince, abbreviated into two or three letters. An
additional ground of objection is found in the length of
the legend The early coins of every kingdom bear either
no legends or very short ones, simplicity being the test of
antiquity, as in the Syrian and Parthian series. We
should, therefore, expect the earlier coins of Numidia to
bear short legends, which are found in fact since the coin
of Gala has two letters, and that of Hiempsal three, while
these coins, if of Syphax, contemporary with Gala, have
a legend of nine letters, containing besides the name of
the king, the word kingdom, a legend which recurs under
Juba. I have not seen the original coin classed to Syphax,
in the French Cabinet, which I regret. From the differ-
ence, however, between the legend as given by Gesenius
(Tab. xlii. B.), that given in the Chronicle (Vol. XIV.), in
Mionnet, Tab. xx. 49 and in a drawing given me recently, I
incline to think the first letter of uncertain form and
indistinct. In the drawing which I have before me, the
first letter resembles almost exactly the final JH, but that the
1 9 Numismatic Chronicle Vol. XIV. p. 12
AFRICAN REGAL COINS. 89
lower part of the upright stroke is wanting. It does not
much resemble D. In Gesenius, the form is dubious ; but
in the coin from the Danish Cabinet (Tab. xlii. A), the first
letter is certainly r\, which corroborates my view of the
other coin. With all deference then to the learning and
talents of the Due de Luynes, who had the great advantage
of examining the coin in question, I would for the reasons
above given, doubt the classification to Syphax, and
represent the legends as possibly rO/ fi pIP, without,
however, offering any explanation. The portraits on the
two coins (Gesenius Tab. xlii. A and B), are also very
different in character, and can hardly belong to the same
king. The second letter might be or S, and I know
not which to select. This legend bears very great simi-
larity to that on a silver coin in the British Museum, which
has been engraved in the Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. VI.,
p. 183, and classed by Mr. Walford to Juba II. The
classification, however, depends on the last letter, which he
read * for Juba, while on a cast before me, which I owe to
the kindness of a gentleman here, the last letter is an
undoubted H. He read *D/ Wp2, by decree of king
Juba. The portrait is not that of Juba, so far as I can
judge ; and I have shown that his name does not occur on
the coin, so that this classification may be set aside. I
have very carefully examined the cast before me, and with
some confidence propose the following transcript of the
legend frZhtiEitl *ti *lp. As regards the interpretation, I
am by no means so confident. I, however, propose to read
Cirta capital of the kingdom.
*Tp abbreviated for J"Tp, which means city, but of course
may denote also Cirta, the city par excellence, being the
capital of Numidia. The name Cirta is derived from
VOL. XV. N
90 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
, I take to mean capital, or chief, as I imagine it to
be derived from the verb PGft to divide, which, according to
Gesenius, has the meaning constituted, set over, in the Pual
conjugation. This is, however, a mere guess on my part,
as my slight knowledge of Hebrew does not enable me to
say if such a derivation is possible. As a support, how-
ever, to my view, I may mention that I begun by assuming
*lp to stand for Cirta, and reasoning from the assumption, I
concluded that *T3 must have a meaning analogous to
capital. Finding that it may have the meaning, set over>
which is the same as capital or chief, appears to me to
increase the probability of my assumption being correct?
since by reasoning from it I arrived at a correct result.
I must leave it to experienced numismatists to determine
the period to which this coin belongs. I of course offer
this only as a conjecture, to be decided upon by numismatists
at their pleasure. The reading I propose is consistent with
the form of the letters on the coin, and must be near the
truth, whatever may be thought of the translation.
The next coins I have to mention bear legends in a
character quite unknown to me, and apparently new.
8. Obv. Bare bearded head to left.
R. Horse to left, below which an unknown legend. No. 8.
& 7 2'
9. Obv. A similar coin, but the obverse indistinct.
R. Same type. The latter part of the legend only visible,
but it helps to corroborate the legend on No. 8. No. 9.
M 7.
10. Obv. Similar head to left.
R. Horse to left. Below, a different legend. No. 10.
JEt 7J, my cabinet, and that of the Scottish Antiquaries.
I am quite unable to give any idea as to the character
AFRICAN REGAL COINS. 91
of these inscriptions ; but as they appear new, I have thought
it worth while to publish them. Unless they have some
connection with the Libyan, or Berber, inscriptions in
Gesenius I know not what to think. The letters in them,
however, are isolated. The legends on my coins are very
feeble, and without some attention would be easily passed
over. The coins are certainly African, which caused me
to think of the Libyan tribes, as the legends are not
Numidian.
While on the subject of African coins, I wish to mention,
that I by no means intend to lay any stress on the attribu-
tion of the coin (Numismatic Chronicle, Vol. XIV. p. 145), to
Simmachi or Sinnachi, as there is no authority for calling
it Simaghi, besides that it is too far inland. The attribution
to Sacazama, which involved reading the middle letter tf
for D, is equally untenable. Indeed I by no means intended
either of these conjectures for publication. Although I
incline to continue reading the last two letters 3D, I am
by no means convinced as to the reading of the first.
Mionnet gives it differently in his Corps d'Ouvrage and
Supplement, so that the coins he examined cannot have
been very distinct. I have another specimen ; but the
legend is very indistinct. More specimens are wanted
to ensure certainty as to the forms.
The likeness of the heads on the three upper coins in
the plate at p. 146, Vol. XIV. struck me just now ; and I
think the head on that coin (Gesenius 42 A.), classed to
Syphax, is the same. These coins certainly cannot all bear
the head of Syphax ; and it is that of some deity, I think.
The subject of African coins is a most interesting,
although a difficult, because neglected one. As I fear we
have now little chance of the elaborate work announced by
Messrs. Falbe and Lindberg, every contribution must
92 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
have its value ; and in the hope that these remarks may
draw a little attention to the subject, I offer them with due
diffidence to numismatists capable of judging them, I hope
not too severely.
1 have just found in the Numismatic Chronicle iv. 186,
that Gesenius read the legend on the silver coin *j?fitopj"Q.
The copy I have consulted does not contain the proceedings
of the Society, to which reference is made. I think, how-
ever, this is not authorised by the cast I have examined.
I proceed to go over the letters seriatim.
The first, which cannot be ^ on the cast before me,
resembles somewhat the long tailed K on coins of Gades
or Cossura, but still more p.
The second and fifth are the same, but with different
lengths of tail, for which reason I read 1 and *1 respec-
tively.
The third, seventh and eighth are undoubtedly D.
The fourth appears to me 3, and the sixth as undoubtedly H.
The ninth is 7, the tenth D, and the eleventh distinctly D,
and riot * as it appears in the reading of Gesenius.
W. H. SCOTT.
X.
REMARKS ON RARE AND UNPUBLISHED COINS.
[Read before the Numismatic Society, April 22nd, 1852.]
I BEG to exhibit to the Society a few coins which have lately
come into my possession, all of which are of great rarity,
and some of them, to the best of my knowledge, nearly if
not quite unique.
RARE AND UNPUBLISHED COINS.
The first is a third brass coin of Carausius.
93
Ofo. IMP.CARAVSIVS P.F.AVG. Radiated head of Carau-
sius to the right.
R. LEG. IIXX PRIMIG. In the exergue M.L. Capricorn
to the left.
A similar coin has been described by Mr. C. Roach Smith,
among others found near Strood, in Kent, in the 2nd. vol. of
the Numismatic Chronicle, p. 114., and has been engraved
and described in Akerman's Coins of the Romans relating
to Britain. The figure of Capricorn is, in both places,
inadvertently described as being to the right instead of to
the left. The Strood coin appears to have been considered
unique ; but there is another specimen of the same type
in the Hunter Museum at Glasgow; though it does not
shew the ML. on the exergue. It is described in the
Monumenta Historica Britannica as reading PRIMIC
nstead of PRIMIG. Stukeley also appears to have seen
the type, 1 though in an imperfect state, unless, possibly,
the specimens he engraves are of the second legion.
With regard to the legion, whose name appears on
the coin, it would at first sight appear to be that of
the 18th, but Mr. C. Roach Smith is of opinion, and I
think correctly, that it is the 22nd. According to Sertorius
Ursatus, there is an instance of the name of the 18th legion
occurring with the epithet of Primigenia, but the 22nd
legion is that to which this title is usually given. It is
rather singular, that the Capricorn appears on coins of
Gallienus both with LEG. IIXX. and LEG. XXII.
The title of Primigenia occurs in connection with the
22nd legion on a denarius of Severus, and on a third brass
coin of Victorinus, where it is given in full LEG. XXII.
PRIMIGENIE.
1 PI. xix. 1. and vi. 7.
94 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Banduri also speaks of a denarius of M. Antony with
the same legend, which is not verified.
But that Primigenia was an old title of this legion, we may
gather from Spartianus, who says that tl Didius Julianus,
post praeturam Legioni praefuit, in Germania Vicesimae
Secundse Primigeniae." It had likewise the title of Anto-
niana. The name of this LEG. XXII. PR. occurs on several
inscriptions in two cases in connection with apparently the
name of the town " Tripontium " (Lilburn near Rugby),
which points out that part of the country, either as the
place from which some part of the legion was levied, or
else as one of its stations. The coin is certainly one of
the most interesting of those of the British usurper.
The next coin is British, and in gold. The type of the
obverse is that known as the Verulam type, while the
reverse gives the armed horseman, and the legend TASC.
The interest attaching to this coin arises from its having
the letters VER from Verulamium inserted among the
ornaments on the obverse ; and, though they are exceedingly
indistinct, there can be no doubt of their being there, the
V and R being perfectly legible. The only other genuine
coin with these letters is that belonging to Mr. Cuff, and
engraved in the Numismatic Journal, Vol. 1. p. 91, and in
Ruding. A fabrication is engraved in the Monumenta
Historica Britannica,Plate I, No. 50. The present specimen
appears to be from the same die as Mr. Cuff's, with the
letters partly obliterated ; and it is by means of his coin that
the reading on mine is verified. It is worthy of remark, that
Mr. Cuff at the time of the publication of his coin, con-
sidered that the letters might possibly occur on other coins,
but, owing to their minuteness, have been overlooked, as was
for a length of time the case with the coin now exhibited,
while it formed a part of the Holrnesdale collection.
My next coin is a Sceatta, different in type from any that
RARE AND UNPUBLISHED COINS. 95
I can find engraved, though it has some resemblance to one
given in Smith's Collectanea Antiqua, vol. i. p. 23., No. 4^
It stands first in the accompanying anastatic plate. The ob-
verse presents a rude head, regarding the left with some rude
imitations of letters in front. The reverse gives a cross with
four dots in the angle, surrounded with As and Vs alter-
nately, forming a sort of star. It is singular that among all
the sceattas engraved by Ruding, Hawkins and Smith,
there are only three instances in which the portrait, if so it
is to be called, on the obverse is turned to the left. The
weight of this coin is 15| grs., and it was discovered at
Dunstable, Bedfordshire, the great majority of sceattas
being found in Kent.
The next coin is a Bristol halfpenny of the first coinage
of Edward VI., which is a piece of the msot extreme
arrity. Mr. Hawkins, 2 in 1841, speaking of this coinage,
observes, that the denomination of the pieces was to be
testoons, groats, half groats, pennies, halfpennies, and
farthings; but, of these, groats, halfgroats and pennies, alone
are now known. There have, however, since then, been
two specimens of the halfpenny described in the Numismatic
Chronicle, 8 one of them of the Bristol Mint, from which
mine will be found to differ in several points. It is the
second in the plate.
Obv. The bust of the king in profile, crowned, surrounded by
the legend $' 6 D J G' ROSS' SIN^ SPIN'. A small
trefoil occurs after $ D' G' ROS and H' SPIN.
R. A cross fleure"e with three pellets in each angle, and with
a two-leaved ornament like a trefoil without the middle
leaf between each fork of the cross, and the legend
CIV I T3CS BRIS TOLL
2 Silver coins, p. 139. 3 Vol. VIII. p. 127.
96 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
It is in fine preservation, and weighs 3 -f^ grains ; the
weight of the Bristol penny given in Ruding being 7 grains.
It is needless to enlarge on the interest attaching to this
coin, on account of its extreme rarity ; but I must beg leave
to add a few words relative to the master of the Bristol
Mint, at the time of its being struck, concerning whom I
regret there is apparently so little known. It appears, from
receipts still extant, that the Comptroller of the Bristol
Mint at that time was Robert Recorde ; and if there are any
means of proving him to be the same as Robert Recorde,
the eminent mathematician, and author of the Whetstone
of Wit, the first English book on Algebra, published in
1557, and of other learned works, we might add another
distinguished mathematical name to those of Sir Isaac
Newton and Sir John F. W. Herschell, by which the annals
of the Mint are already graced.
There are two other very remarkable coins engraved in
the plate, the property of Mr. Webster, to which I beg to
call attention. They are both stycas, and both read distinctly
on the obverse B&OM RE + around a cross. The reverses
giveFHDLv OL+ retrograde and FOM SDR, also retrograde.
They differ materially from any that have hitherto been pub-
lished, and I think it may not unreasonably be assumed, that
Beom was one of those "intruders, or rather tyrants," who,
in the beginning of the ninth century, "bandied for the
sovereignty of Northumberland for the space of thirty
years/' There is, however, it must be confessed, no mention
in history of any pretender or king of this name, though
very similar names occur in the chronicles of Northumbria,
and more particularly Beorn, the ealdorman whom the
high reeves of the Northumbrians burned at Seletun, in
the year 780.
REMARKABLE COINS OF CARAUSIUS.
97
There is, moreover, a possibility that the M which is of a
peculiar form, may be a monogram of NA., and that the
stycas are those of Beonna, king of the East Angles, of
whom pennies are extant in the sceatta form. But this
I shall leave for the decision of those better qualified than
myself to judge.
J. EVANS.
IV.
REMARKABLE COIN OF OARAUSIUS.
MY DEAR MR. AKERMAN,
Herewith I send you a cut of a brass coin of
Carausius, which has lately come into my possession, the
peculiarity of its type will, I think, entitle it to a place in
the Chronicle; it is said to have been found at or near
Cambridge; the portrait is like that usually met with on
his coins, though the cut would lead to a different opinion.
With regard to the armed figure on the reverse, I will leave
it to your more precise knowledge of the arms and armour
of the period, to make any observations which you think
may add an interest to this already remarkable coin; I
would, however, observe, that the annular object attached
to a portion of the warrior's costume seems to give us some
O
98 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
idea that the massive bronze rings usually termed armillse
were used for some purpose connected with the adjustment
of the dress.
Believe me, yours very sincerely,
J. COVE JONES.
2, Harcourt Buildings, Temple.
June 3rd, 1852.
[We have little to add to the remarks of our kind correspon-
dent on this singular coin. The reverse is particularly worthy of
observation : the figure would certainly appear to be designed for
a representation of a Romano-British soldier, and it need not be
remarked, that the dress and attitude differ from those of the
figures on the imperial coins of this period. The head of the
figure does not appear to be galeated, but covered with a kind of
petasus ; while the shield, even allowing that this object may be
a little out of the perspective, seems to be of a form not common
to the Romans in this age. The heavy javelin, or barbed
pilum, is highly characteristic of the period, and the numismatist
need not be reminded, that it is very commonly represented on
the coins of Constantius II., on which the emperor appears striking
a falling horseman with that formidable weapon. The suggestion
of our correspondent as to the meaning of the annular figure
depending from the palliam, is well worthy of our attention, as
probablv affording some clue to the actual use of the heavy bronze
rings which are commonly supposed to have been armillae.
ED. N. 0.]
V.
BRITISH SILVER COINS RECENTLY FOUND AT
WESTON IN NORFOLK.
[Read before the Numismatic Society, May 27th, 1852,]
5, Liverpool Street, May 22nd., 1852.
MY LORD,
Mr. Goddard Johnson has very kindly
entrusted to me a considerable number of British silver
coins, recently found at Weston, in Norfolk, for exhibition
Mm. Cfam.. Vol. XV> 9$
COINS OF THE ICE Ml.
at Western in , 'Norfolk.
BRITISH SILVER COINS POUND IN NORFOLK. 99
at the meeting of the Numismatic Society on Thursday
next.
Mr. Johnson states that they were found about the 20th
of March by two labourers who were making a new ditch
through a field in the village of Weston, near Attlebridge,
when the spade of one of them came in contact with a small
urn, and broke it into fragments. This urn contained, it is
calculated, from two hundred to three hundred coins. About
a hundred and fifty of them have passed into Mr. Johnson's
possession, and he has taken pains to select specimens for
our examination of the various types. There were also two
consular denarii, one of the Antonia, the other of the
Cassia family.
The authenticated discovery of these coins is very im-
portant, as it confirms their appropriation to the district
comprised in the territories of the Iceni, and enables us
also to add to this class of the British coins a few new
types.
Gough,! believe, was the first who attributed coins, similar
to some of these, to the Iceni. Mr. Akerman, in the Numis-
matic Chronicle, Vol. I., plate ii., figs. 15 to 20 ; and in Vol. II.,
plate iii., fig. 7, has engraved examples precisely similar to
those now before us, which were found at March in Cam-
bridgeshire, and at Battle, in Sussex. Mr. Akerman has also
published a coin in gold (Numismatic Journal, pi. ii., fig. 1),
found at Oxnead, in Norfolk, which must be assigned to
this class.* Oxnead is about ten miles from Weston,
Subsequently, the Rev. Beale Poste published six from the
collection in the British Museum, and one from the cabinet
* It was supplied to the British Museum by Mr. Goddard
Johnson.
100 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
of Mr. Huxtable, as coins of the Iceni.* The weight of
Mr. Johnson's coins ranges from fifteen to eighteen grains ;
those published by Mr. Poste, weighed from eighteen to
nineteen and half grains. The most numerous divisions of
the Weston coins present :
1. On the convex side the double crescent ornament, and on
the concave a horse, beneath which are the letters ECE
or ECEN. Plate, figs. 4 and 5,
2. The same with the letter T, or ATD, or ATED, or ANTD.
Figs. 6, 7, and 8.
3. Obv. A rude human head.
Rev. A horse with various symbols or ornaments. Fig. 3.
4. Obv . A boar.
Rev. A horse. Figs. and 10.
There is one specimen of a new type, as follows :
Qbv. Two small crescents back to back, with what seem
to be intended for branches or leaves.
.Rev. A horse faced towards the left ; the horses on the
others being towards the right, f Fig. 1.
Another,, of a new type and unique, is more interesting,
(fig. 2). The obverse is unfortunately worn, and can only be
understood by an engraving. On the reverse is a horse to the
right, above the letters CAN or CAM ; below, DVEO. Gale
in his Itinerary of Antoninus (4to. 1709, p. 109), mentions
coins found at Caistor, the Venta Icenorum, inscribed
10. DVRO. T. The example just described proves that he
had seen coins corresponding, at least in part, with ours ;
but it may be questioned whether he may not have taken
the 10 from others reading ECE, and the T from those
before referred to, and possibly did not intend to convey
* Journal of the British Archaeological Association, vol. iv.,
p. 107-15.
f I have since observed that another of this type, found at
\Yeston, has been sold by Messrs. Sotheby and Wilkinson.
BRITISH SILVER COINS FOUND IN NORFOLK. 101
a notion that all these letters were upon one coin. How-
ever this may be, it shows that we must be cautious not
to reject too hastily the testimony of the earlier antiquaries
because they were not so explicit and correct in points of
numismatology as we of the present day find it necessary
to be.
The inscribed coins under consideration resolve them-
selves into three series; namely, those reading EOE and
ECEN, which, I think, can no longer be doubted to mean
coins of the Iceni; those with T or ATD, or ANTD, the
meaning of which I will not, at present, pretend to deter-
mine; and that with CAN or CAM, and DVRO. The last
of these is new., and now, for the first time, published. Duro,
in the names of towns or stations in the ancient itineraries,
invariably denotes water : it is, in fact, the Celtic term for
water ; and Gale had some reason for referring his coin to
Caistor on the Wentsum, the Venta Icenorum ; but we have
in the territories of the Iceni, two places called .Df/rolipons
and Durobrivm, one of which is more probably indicated
by the Duro upon our coin. The CAM (if, upon the dis-
covery of a more perfect example, such should prove to be
the letters on the upper part of this coin) may be referred to
Camboricum, which was also in the country of the Iceni.
But, as the two inscriptions upon one coin can hardly be
supposed to indicate two places, we must be content to rest
in doubt until future discoveries afford further facts for
comparison.
The coin in the possession of Mr. Huxtable, before
alluded to, appears to read SITMV (fig. 12), which Mr.
Poste, I think with good reason, conceives may denote
Sitomagus, a place also in the same district of Britain.
The coincidence is remarkable ; and I think we can no
longer doubt that these coins really belong to the Iceni, and,
102
ANOTHER TYPE OF BALDRED.
that the inscriptions on figs. 2 and 12 denote places in the
territories of that people, probably those above suggested.
Fig. 1 1 represents a coin in the possession of Mr. Huxtable,
which is here introduced from its evident affinity to the
coins found at Weston.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Yours very sincerely,
C. ROACH SMITH.
TJte Lord Londesborouqh,
President of the Numismatic Society of London.
VI.
ANOTHER TYPE OF BALDRED.
[Read before the Numismatic Society, May 27th, 1852.]
IT will perhaps be in the recollection of the Society, that
at their meeting on the 27th of November last, I exhibited
and described the drawing of a specimen of a penny of
Baldred or Beldred, king of Kent, of an unpublished
type.
It is somewhat remarkable, considering the extreme
rarity of the coins of this king, that I am again enabled to
place on record a newly discovered specimen of his penny,
ANOTHER TYPE OF BALDRED. 103
which also differs from any hitherto described. It is
without the bust, and in general character much resembles
the coin figured in Ruding, plate iii. No. 3.
Obv. + BELDRED EEX EANT (the NT in monogram),
in the centre a plain cross.
Rev. + TIDBEARHT. In the centre a cross, which
has the lower limb divided into two divergent
branches.
On reference to my former paper, it will be seen that
the moneyer is the same whose name occurs on a coin of
Baldred of the type Ruding, plate iii. No. 1, which is in the
collection of Mr. Cuff.
The coin is not quite perfect at the edge, but is, in other
respects, in much better condition than the one described by
me in November last, which was found in the neighbourhood
of Guildford. The present specimen was recently dis-
covered in Suffolk ; and has since passed into the cabinet
of the Rev. Edward J. Shepherd, by whom the cut at the
head of this paper has been kindly contributed.
J. B. BERGNE.
104
MISCELLANEA.
M. de Longperier has already read LN as London (Lettres
du Baron Marchant, ed, 1850, p. 437). He reads, however,
P LN. Prima Londinensis. In consistency with this, he must
read MLN. Millesima Londinensis. Is it not better to read in
one case Pecunia, in the other Moneta ? I may mention that in
describing the coin, pi. xxvii. 2. he has omitted the S Senioti,
which is found in the plate. This is important to notice, because
the occurrence of a coin of Diocletian or Maximianus, struck before
their abdication, with PLN, would, I think, militate against the
reading LN. London. To my alarm, such a coin presented
itself through this error, although, on referring to the plate, it
subsided. He carries the principle of abbreviation further, and
at p. 441, reads on a coin of Constantinus III., S.M. LD. Secunda
moneta Londinensis. I object to reading Secunda, because we
should expect to find Prima moneta, or Tertia moneta, as well as
Secunda, yet I cannot find any such exergues. We always find
together the letters S.M, never P.M, or T.M, so far as I can find
at least. Therefore I think Signata Moneta more likely to be
correct On coins of Allectus we find MSL. never MPL. or
MTL. It is true, we find SACRA MONETA at full length on
some coins ; and it might be supposed SM. meant the same. There
is much uncertainty in many interpretations ; but the collection of
variants clears up a good deal. Thus, where P. and M, only
occurs, as on the coins with LN., it is safe to read, I think,
Pecunia, possibly Percussa, and Moneta. Where P. S. T. and Q.
replace each other as on middle brass of Maximianus with
SACRA MON, which bear PT., ST., TT., or QT., it is necessary
to read Prima, Seeunda, Tertia, or Quarta, Treveris. It is as yet
an obscure subject, but worthy of investigation. A general
collection would facilitate such investigation greatly, giving all
the variants. Mr. Stevenson's announced Dictionary will, I hope,
contain some such thing. They should be brought together, not
scattered as in Rasche's Lexicon.
W. H. SCOTT.
MEDAL OP CHARLES I. Mr. Pretty, by the hands of Mr.
Saul, communicated to the Numismatic Society on the 27th of
MISCELLANEA. 105
May, a singular and unpublished medal of this monarch, which
may be thus described :
Bust of Charles I. Rex., hair rather short, lovelock over his
left shoulder ; falling lace collar, figured armour, lion's head on
shoulder ; scarf, medal suspended by a ribbon. Leg. CARO-
LVS I. D. G. MAGN BRIT. FRANC. ET. HIB. REX.
^ETATIS SV^E 1642 (?). 2J AR.
The reverse (representing a figure in a car) to which the specimen
from which this description is taken is attached, has no proper
connection with it. It was originally published as a reverse to
a medal by Trezzo, of Hippolyta Gayza, daughter of Ferdinand
and Isabella, Duke of Mantua, who died in 1563.
This medallic portrait of Charles occurs in several reduced
sizes on medals worn as badges or memorials, by his partisans
during his troubles and after his death.
FORGERIES OF FIVE-FRANC PIECES. Remarkable ingenuity has
been shown in Paris recently in the adulteration of five franc
pieces. The modus operandi of the money utterers is stated to be
as follows : One side of the coin is carefully removed by the use
of a very thin fine saw ; as much of the interior as possible is then
cut out; the space left vacant is filled up with a composition
having the same weight, and nearly the same sound or ring as
silver ; then the side is carefully soldered on again, and the coin
has of course the same outward appearance as before. Most of
the pieces thus altered bear the effigy either of Louis XVII.,
Charles X., or Louis Philippe. The fraud was detected at the
Bank of France. The deterioration of the coins thus altered is
about seven-tenths.
[The foregoing is taken from the daily journals. A similar,
though more ingenious mode of adulteration of the coin is com-
mon in the East Indies, where a hole is made by drilling in the
edge of the coin, and the piece itself rendered a mere shell, the
inside being filled up with inferior metal, We exhibited a
specimen of this kind of forgery to the members of the Numis-
matic Society some years ago. See Numismatic Chronicle,
Vol. VI. p. 82.]
ANOTHER COIN INSCRIBED VIRI. A fine specimen of the type
engraved in Ancient Coins of Cities and Princes, plate xxi.
fig. 15, was found a short time since by a labouring man in
Pagham Harbour, Sussex.
. !>//// fhrvn.. Vol.yX.jt. // 7.
JSL
Mlfc 13^
J CUjakorn ahUtsc
GAULISH & BRITISH COINS-
107
XIV.
ON THE ORTHOGRAPHICAL FORM OF THE NAMES
INSCRIBED ON CERTAIN GAULISH AND BRITISH
COINS.
BEFORE proceeding to the more general question which
will be discussed in the ensuing pages, I shall submit a few
remarks upon a particular series of coins, by which the
inquiry has been suggested to me. It is a series assigned
by M. Duchalais, in his valuable Catalogue, 1 exclusively to
the North-east of Gaul. The coins present, on one side, a
rudely rendered female head in a winged helmet ; and on
the other, an armed horseman galloping, with his lance
levelled, and a chlamys flying back from his shoulders.
They are variously inscribed, exhibiting sometimes the
names of supposed native chiefs, sometimes those of tribes
or towns. Amongst the latter occur the names of EBUKO,
commonly interpreted as Eburones, and of DURNACOS, or
DuRNACUS, identified by some numismatists with the modern
Tournay.
The general resemblance of these coins, in fabric and
type, to the Roman Consular denarii is sufficiently obvious ;
though in size they correspond rather with the quinarii,
weighing, upon an average, about thirty grains. It has
not, however, apparently been observed, that the exact pro-
totype of the entire class is to be found amongst the
coins of the Marcian Family, in a denarius of Q. Marcius
Philippus. This denarius has been engraved by Riccio,
1 Medailles Gauloises, p. 273, note to No. 647.
VOL. XV. Q
108 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
though apparently from a somewhat defective specimen. 2
A better example, in the collection of the British Museum,
may be thus described :
Obv. Head of Rome, in winged helmet, right. Behind the
head, -fc.
Rev. Horseman, in helmet, with clilamys flying back, and
lance levelled, galloping, right. Behind the horse, an
undetermined object. 3 Underneath, Q'P I LI r VS. In
the exergue, ROMA. (AR. Size 4. Weight, 59-6
grains. See plate, fig. I.)
In what way this branch of the Marcian family may have
been connected with Gaul, or how its coinage should have
become the model for a Belgic artist, cannot now be ascer-
tained. The spelling of the name riLInVS indicates, in
the opinion of Riccio, a somewhat early date for the Con-
sular coin ; though,, it should be remembered, an archaic
orthography is not unlikely to have been affected, especially
if the warrior represented on the reverse be, as lliccio
thinks, an " ancient worthy" of a family which pretended
to the blood of Ancus Marcius. But whatever may
have been the date of the original, it is by no means to be
inferred, that the Gaulish copies were the produce of the
same, or even of the succeeding, age. Roman money is not
supposed to have circulated beyond the Alps till the organi-
sation of the "Province," about B.C. 122; and the Belgic
territory would probably be the last to give it admission.
The names occurring in this series, attributed to
native chiefs, are AUSCRO, DONNUS, BRICCA COMAN,
RlCAN, Row CNUOI ; none of which are known to history.
3 Monete delle Antiche Famiglie di Roma, p. 138, No. 21 ;
and Tav. xxx, No. 11.
3 Riccio calls this a Macedonian helmet, being misled by the
incompleteness of the type in his example, upon which only the
upper portion of the object appears.
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. 109
Two of these varieties, however, present a peculiarity,
which has led me to the more general inquiry, to which I
now wish to call the attention of numismatists. The ortho-
graphical form of the Celtic names appears to me to be
intimately connected with the chronology of Gaulish and
British coins. And without pretending to be able to clear
up all the difficulties of so obscure a subject, I yet venture
to hope, that by submitting the question to discussion in
the form of a definite hypothesis, admitting of proof or
disproof, I may at least tend to promote investigation, and,
through investigation, discovery.
The two varieties to which I refer bear each a double
inscription : on one side, the name of the city Durnacos or
Durnacus ; on the other, that of one of the two chiefs,
Auscro and Donnus* (see plate, figs. 2 and 3).
The peculiarity to be noticed is, that on all the known
coins of Auscro the name of the city, when fully pre-
served, invariably ends in OS, and on those of Donnus it
ends as uniformly in VS. I am, therefore, led to suggest,
that the change in the spelling of the name of the city
is indicative of two distinct epochs, to which the two
chiefs respectively belong. The examples in the British
Museum do not, perhaps, present any such differences in
fabric, or style of art, as of themselves to justify us, in the
present state of our knowledge, in assigning to either the
priority of date. But upon philological grounds, the ter-
minations COS, and CRO (if standing for CROS), may, I
think, be considered anterior to CVS and NVS. Not that
the former can be identified directly with the archaic Latin,
since the Roman coins, from which, as I have shewn, these
4 The two specimens here engraved are from the collection in
the British Museum. The French Cabinet possesses examples in
which the final S is preserved (vide Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 207-8).
110 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
are derived, present the later form of spelling. But con-
sidering that the first money of the Gauls was imitated from
that of the Greeks, that in all their writings, as Caesar
tells us, 5 they adopted the Greek character, and that upon
some of their coins, indicating by their type and fabric the
influence of Roman models, the legends still continue to be
wholly, or partly, in Greek, it seems not inconsistent to
suppose, that when at length the Latin character was as-
sumed, it might at first have been accompanied by a partial
admixture of Greek orthography. Should this theory be
correct, the names ending in OS may be considered to
belong generally to the period of incipient intercourse
between the Gauls and Romans, commencing after the
colonisation of the " Province," B.C. 122; whilst the names
ending in VS, though upon coins still technically termed
<e autonomous/' may be regarded generally as posterior to
the complete establishment of the Roman power. Although
the change in style would not, of course, be effected within
the limits of a single year, yet the final subjugation of Gaul
by Caesar, B.C. 51, furnishes the most probable approximate
epoch the mean date, so to speak for the transition.
I shall now proceed to inquire, how far the historical
evidence deducible from the coins themselves is in accord-
ance with this supposition. In so doing, I shall include the
money of this country with that of Gaul, because not merely
was the coinage of Britain derived from its continental
neighbour ; but its language, being originally the same, and
exposed to similar influences from without, would naturally
undergo the same variations.
I shall, however, not notice names ending in O, except
where some evidence appears of the omission of a final S ;
5 Bell. Gall. vi. H.
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. Ill
for might probably itself be in some instances a Celtic
termination, which would continue unaltered in the Roman
times.
The following propositions appear to me to result from
a comparison of all the instances with which I am ac-
quainted :
I. That the terminations OS and VS do not occur united
upon any single coin.
II. That the termination OS is not found in conjunction
with titles indicative of Roman authority, institutions, or
forms of speech; nor the termination VS in conjunction
with any that are strictly aboriginal.
III. That of the few historical names occurring upon this
class of coins, those which are known to be anterior to the
Roman conquest occur, almost universally, with the ter-
mination OS, whilst those which can be proved posterior
have always the termination VS.
In thus stating the collective testimony of the several
examples I have hitherto met, I must remind the reader,
that such rules ought not, from the nature of the case, to be
expected to be invariable ; for at least some exceptional
instances may be anticipated as we approach the era of
transition, when the orthography would for a short time be
liable to fluctuation.
I. Of the first proposition, being simply a negative, no
proof can, of course, be offered. Its correctness must be
tried when any counter evidence is adduced. The only
ostensibly adverse example which I have yet discovered
appears in the Catalogue of the Hunter Collection, 6 where
a coin is published as inscribed DORNACOS DONNVS.
I am enabled, however, by the kindness of Mr. Wadding-
6 Page 128.
112 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
ton, who has recently examined the coin itself in the Glasgow
Museum,, to state that this reading is erroneous, the first name
really terminating., as upon all similar varieties, in VS.
II. The second proposition will be best explained by the
mention of those Roman titles which are found in conjunc-
tion with the termination VS, and never with that of OS.
The first is the letter F ? following a proper name in the
genitive case, which Mr. Birch 7 has pointed out as the ab-
breviation of Films, similar to that adopted on the coins of
Augustus, who thus recorded his legal relationship to Julius.
The British Museum possesses one undoubted example of
the combination of this title with the termination VS, in the
well-known British gold coin, having on the obverse COM.F.,
and on the reverse EPPILLVS. In the same collection is
also another specimen, which will hereafter be noticed, but
of which the reading is not sufficiently certain, to justify its
being quoted at present in illustration of the use of the
Roman formula.
A second title of Roman form is REX, which occurs,
combined with CVNOBELINVS, on a copper coin of that
prince in the British Museum, and combined with ADIET-
VANVS, on a Gaulish coin, upon which it will be necessary
to remark in the sequel.
To this head may also be referred the legend AMBACT VS,
occurring, without further addition, on the obverse of a coin
in the Bibliotheque Royale at Paris. 8 The word Ambactus,
which, according to Festus, was used by Ennius in the
sense of " SoOXo? /ucr&oro?/' occurs in Caesar, apparently,
for a dependent. ^ If, therefore, with M. Duchalais, we
consider its appearance on this coin as expressive of
? Num. Ckron. Vol. VII. p. 80.
8 Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 158, No. 446.
9 " Eorum (i. e. equitum) ut quisque ex genere copiisque am-
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. 113
submission to the Roman sway,, we have a confirmation of
the date to which the termination VS would refer it ; though
I arn bound to confess to some doubt, whether a word thus
isolated is not in reality a proper name.
On the other hand, the title of Vergobret, which, from
the language of Caesar, 10 must have been peculiar to the
period of Gaulish independence, is found, evidently united
with a proper name as a designation of rank, on two remark-
able coins, presenting examples of the termination OS. The
first, published by the late Baron Marchant, 11 is, according
to him, inscribed CISIARECO VERCOBRETO SIMISSOS
PVBLIO VIO. The second, edited by M. De Saulcy, 1 *
reads CISIAMBOS CATTOS VERCOBRETO SIMISSOS
PVBLIOOS LIXOVIO. Without staying to inquire into
the correctness of the explanation given by M. Marchant
to the words SIMISSOS PUBLICOS, the title VERCOBRETO
furnishes sufficient evidence of the early date of these
coins.
Here it will be necessary to notice a statement of a
learned French writer, which, if correct, would militate
against the proposition I am now endeavouring to establish.
M. Lambert, of Bayeux, has spoken, 13 in somewhat gene-
ral terms, but without any apparent doubt, of coins in-
scribed, SANTONOS Q. DOCI ; the latter of which names
partakes obviously of a Roman form. No coin, however,
with such a legend, is actually published either by him, or,
plissimus, ita plurimos circum se ambactos clientesque habet"
(Bell. Gall. vi. 15).
10 " Qui summo magistratu prseerat, quern Vergobretum ap-
pellant JEdui, qui creatur animus, et vitse necisque in suos habet
potestatem" (Bell. Gall. i. 16).
11 Melanges de Numisniatique et d' Histoire, Dissert, xxv.
12 Revue Num. 1837, p. 12.
13 Essai sur la Numismatique Gauloise, p. 7.
114 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
as far as I am aware, by any other numismatist ; nor is
there any such in the British Museum. I cannot but sus-
pect, therefore, that he has been led into the belief of the
existence of this inscription by the assumption of preceding
writers, that the coins of Q. Doci belong to the Santones.
The only name with which SANTON03 has, as I believe,
been really found united, is ARIVOS. That of Q. DOCI,
in the best preserved examples, is followed only by four
letters, which Mionnet renders variously as SANT, SAMI,
and SAAI ; the first of which readings is adopted by M.
Lambert himself/ 4 and by M. A. Barthelemy, 15 on coins
which they respectively publish, whilst the second only is
considered admissible by M. Duchalais. 16 The last-
mentioned author determines, as I think, justly, that these
coins belong not to the Santones, but to Gallia Belgica,
though he leaves the legend SAMI unexplained. I shall
take the opportunity of suggesting a new interpretation of
this much-vexed word, illustrated by a specimen in the
British Museum, here engraved (see plate, fig. 4). I would
render it as SAM. F[ilius], rudely compressed into a
form which will be easily understood by a comparison
with the Table of Monograms, published in Riccio's
work. If this reading be correct, it furnishes an additional
proof that the Belgic chief, who appears to have assumed
the prsenomen of Quintus, belongs to the Roman period.
III. In proof of my third proposition, I shall specify all
the coins I have met with, presenting examples of either
termination, and bearing names of which the date can be
ascertained from historical sources.
Firstly, Names ending in OS.
Page 145. ^ R ev . j^um. 1838, pp. 17.
!6 Med. Gaul. p. 235, note to No. 567.
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. 115
1 . COIOS. On the reverse of a coin in the Bibliotheque
Royale? 1 thus inscribed, is the legend ORCITIRIX, under
which name is recognised the Orgetorix mentioned by
Caesar as a chief of the Helvetii at the commencement of
the Gallic war. 18
2. TASGIITIOO, on a coin also in the Bibliotheque^
Tasgetius, chief of the Carnutes, is mentioned in Caesar, 20
in the fifth year of the war (B.C. 64).
3. LVXTIIPIOS, from the same collection. 21 This name
is identified by the French numismatists with Lucterius,
chief of the Cadurci, who appears in the seventh cam-
paign. 22
4. LITAVICOS, on a coin published by the Marquis de
Lagoy. 23 Litavicus, chief of the ^Edui, held a command
under Caesar, B.C. 5'2. 24
5. IVLIOS. This name occurs on the same coin with
that of DVRAT. 2 5 Duratius, chief of the Pictones, is men-
tioned by Aulus Hirtius as an adherent to the Romans
towards the close of the war;- 6 and M. Duchalais, with
much probability, supposes him to have affiliated himself
into the Julian family.
6. DVRNACOS. This word is united with DVBNOREX
on a coin published by Bouteroue, 27 differing in style from
those of Durnacus before described. The second of these
names is generally recognised as that of the ^Eduan
chief, the Dumnorix of Caesar. 28 Although the reading
w Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 126, No. 374. Bell. Gall. i. 2.
J 9 Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 124, No, 371. 20 Bell. Gall. v. 25.
21 Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 13, No. 25. 22 Bell. Gall. vii. 5.
23 Notice sur 1' Attribution de quelques Me" dailies des Gaules,
p. 37.
2 * Bell. Gall. vii. 37. 2 * Duchalais, Med. Gaul. p. 14, No. 26.
26 Bell. Gall. viii. 26. 2 ? Recherches Curieusea des Mon-
noies de France, p. 45. 28 Bell. Gall. i. 3.
VOL. XV. R
116 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
DVRNACOS rests merely upon the authority of Bouteroue,
yet I know no other reason for doubting its correctness,
than that the coins of Dubnorex are commonly inscribed
DVRNOCOV.
I forbear, however, to rely upon the coin having on the
obverse CARMANOS, and on the reverse COMIOS, which
Eckhel 29 and other numismatists have attributed to Com-
mius, king of the Atrebates, employed by Caesar in his
negotiations with the Britons ; 30 for I am inclined to follow
the opinion of M. Duchalais, 31 that the fabric and style of
the coin refer it to the south of Gaul.
Secondly, Names ending in VS.
1. EPPILLVS, on the reverse of the coin already quoted,
with the inscription COM. F. As the latter name is gene-
rally admitted to be that of the Atrebate chief, his son
Eppillus might very naturally belong to the period succeed-
ing the reduction of Gaul.
2. CVNOBELINVS, on the coin before mentioned.
Cunobelin is known, from Dion Cassius 32 and Suetonius, 33
to have been contemporary with Augustus, Tiberius, and
Caligula.
3. GERM AN VS, united with a word which has been
rendered by the French numismatists generally as INDV-
TILII, by M. Senckler 34 as INDVTILLIL, and by the
writer of the Sale Catalogue of the Pembroke Collection 35 as
INDVTILLI. F. The latter reading appears to me to have
2 9 Doctrina Numorum Veterum, vol. i. p. 77; cf. De la Saussaye,
Rev. Num. 1837, p. 5.
30 Bell. Gall. iv. 21, etc. 31 Med. Gaul. p. 88, No. 298.
32 Hist. Rom. lib. Ix. 33 Calig. c. 44.
34 Jahrbuch des Vereins von Alterthums-Freunden 1846
pp. 4447.
- 15 Note to Lot 276, p. 63.
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. 117
the balance of probability in its favour ; though I did not
feel it sufficiently certain to quote the coin so inscribed,
when discussing my second proposition, as an instance of
the Roman formula combined with the termination VS.
The late date, however, of this coin is determined by other
more conclusive evidence, the type being imitated from
that of a small brass piece of Augustus, bearing his head and
designation, with the addition DIVI F., an addition which
tends incidentally to support the interpretation to which I
incline for the Gaulish legend. Ignorant of this derivation
of the coin, Eckhel 36 appears to have acquiesced in the
opinion of Beger, who had assigned it to Indutiomarus,
chief of the Treviri in the time of Caesar; 37 and M-
Senckler has wasted a good deal of ingenuity in endeavour-
ing to restore the attribution. I annex an engraving of the
original coin and its copy, from examples in the British
Museum (see plate, figs. 5, 6).
4. AMBACTVS. I have already noticed the argument
deducible from the supposed meaning of this word. I now
refer to the coin so inscribed, because a collateral proof of
its later date is furnished by its type, which, according to
M. Duchalais, 38 is borrowed from a quinarius of Caius
Antius Restio ; and this person is stated by Riccio to have
been triumvir monetalis between B.C. 50 and B.C. 43. 39
5. IVLIVS. On the reverse of a coin so inscribed 40 is
the name of TOGIRI, which, from the correspondence of
fabric and type, M. Duchalais has identified, with Q. Doci. 41
I have already given my reasons for assigning this
latter personage to the Roman period ; and, assuming the
*6 Doctr. Num. Vet. vol. i. p. 78. ^ Bell. Gall. v. 3, etc.
38 Med. Gaul. p. 4. 3 9 Monete, etc. p. 14.
40 Lambert, Essai sur la Num. Gaul. p. 144, pi. x. No. 26.
Med. Gaul. p. 237.
118 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
correctness of M. Duchalais' opinion, the name in full would
be Quintus Julius Togirix (or Docirix). Although, from
the instance of Duratius, the honour of enrolment in the
Gens Julia would appear to have been first conceded at an
earlier epoch., yet the wide extension of the practice dates
from a few years after the subjugation of Gaul. 42 Both
Caesar himself, and still more Augustus, lavished the Julian
name not merely on individuals, 43 but on towns.
6. Lastly, I have to mention an example which forms the
only exception I have yet discovered to the general rule
stated in my third proposition. It is a coin published by
the Marquis de Lagoy, 44 having on the obverse REX
ADIETVANVS, and on the reverse SOTIOTA, which has
been attributed by French writers to Adcantuannus, king
of the Sotiates, reduced to submission by Crassus, B.C. 56. 45
The name of this prince is, in a MS. of Caesar in the
Bibliotheque Roy ale, written ADIATVANVS; and I
readily admit the propriety of the identification. A single
instance, however, of the termination VS, on a coin appa-
rently somewhat anterior to the date which I have selected
as the mean epoch of transition, will hardly be thought
materially to impair my argument. The Sotiates were a
tribe in the South of Gallia Aquitanica; and it is not
improbable, that in the vicinity of the Province the Roman
orthography may have prevailed somewhat earlier than in
the Northern divisions of Gaul.
In conclusion, a few words must be added upon a monu-
mental inscription, which has been sometimes referred to in
* 2 Thierry, Histoire des Gaulois, part iii. ch. 1.
43 Of. Merivale, History of the Romans under the Empire,
vol.ii. p. 3, note; where several instances of persons so entitled
are quoted from the Imperial times.
44 Notice, etc. p. 16. 45 Gees. Bell. Gall. iii. 22.
GAULISH AND BRITISH COINS. 119
proof of the occurrence of the termination OS in Gaulish
names during the imperial times. Upon the Roman
triumphal arch at Orange, in the Department of Vaucluse,
are sculptured several trophies captured from barbarian
warriors, with bucklers bearing the following words i 46
on those upon the front of the arch, MARIO, SACROVIR,
DACVDO, VDILLVS, AVOT...; on those upon its flank,
BODVACVS, 47 VAVNE, BEVE, RATVI, SRE. Accord-
ing to M. De Peiresc, as quoted by Montfaucon, 48 the name
of TEVTOBOCHVS was also upon a stone which fell from
the arch about the year 1600 ; but the story is generally
regarded as apocryphal, and probably originated in the
once prevalent belief, that the edifice was a monument of
the victory gained by Marius over the Teutones, under
Teutobodus, 49 near Aquae Sextise, B.C. 102. The arch is now
referred, by the best authorities, to the time of Marcus
Aurelius.
Without at all doubting this chronology, I may, in
passingj point out, that the name of Sacrovir occurs in the
reign of Tiberius, as that of the ^Eduan insurgent defeated
by Silius near Augustodunum, A.D. 21 a person who had
previously obtained the rights of Roman citizenship, and
46 These inscriptions have been often and variously published,
by Montfaucon, Merime'e, Millin, and others. I have adopted
the version given by M. Courtet, in an article which appears to
contain the most accurate account of the monument (Revue
Archaeologique, vol. v. pp. 209 220).
4 7 The name BODVACVS induces me to submit this passing
question to British numismatists: Whether the most probable
Latin form of BODVOC would be Boadicea ?
48 Antiq. Expliq. Supplement, p. 74.
4 9 Lelewel assigns to Teutobodus the coin inscribed TOVTO-
BOCIO ATEPILOS (vide Duchalais, Med. Gaul, p. 163, No. 448).
Could I fairly convince myself of the justness of this attribution,
the latter name would supply an additional argument in favour of
my third proposition.
120 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
the Gentile name of Julius, in the manner I have before
referred to. 50
To return, however, to the question of orthography : the
inscriptions (of which parts are quite unintelligible) present,
it will be observed, no actual example of the termination
OS ; and its supposed existence could therefore only have
been suggested by the names of MARIO and DAOVDO
(otherwise read DAOVNO), in which it might have been
conceived that the final S is omitted. Now I readily admit
that these words, from their position, are nominatives, and
not Latin datives or ablatives; but I can by no means
allow that the occasional omission of the S upon the earlier
Gaulish coins, resulting from the imperfection of the art of
coinage amongst the uncivilised natives, is any authority
for a similar deficiency in an architectural inscription
executed under the Roman administration. I should at
once, therefore, adopt the obvious explanation, that some
Gaulish names either originally ended in O, or were so
rendered in a language in which that termination was
familiar.
With these observations, which . have extended beyond
the limits I had at first contemplated, I shall leave the
further elucidation of the question to more learned numis-
matists.
EDMUND OLDFIELD.
12th April, 1852.
so Tacit. Aimal. lib. iii. c. 4046.
121
XV.
SUPPLEMENTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SERIES
OF THE COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HIN-
DUSTAN. BY EDWD. THOMAS, BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE.
IN the year 1847-8, I published, in this Journal, a series
of papers on the " Coins of the Patan Sultans of Delhi."
Since that period, I have availed myself of every opportunity
of improving the existing catalogue of these medals, en-
deavouring at the same time to gather every collateral
information towards the general elucidation of the numis-
matic history of the Patan monarchs of Hindustan.
During my late residence in India, the liberality of my
friend, Mr. E. C. Bayley, placed at my disposal an entire
cabinet of Delhi coins. So complete a collection is in itself
worthy of independent description ; but, aided by extensive
contributions from other sources, it enables me to add very
considerably to the previously known suite of medals. I
have therefore arranged these new materials for publication
in our Numismatic Chronicle, where they will appropriately
appear as a connected supplement to the earlier essays
printed in this periodical.
NOTE. The second number, entered after the leading number
of each coin, indicates, in cases where no description of the piece
is given, the heading in the original papers under which the medals
now detailed should be classified.
Where a full transcript of any specimen is introduced in the
following list, the second number determines merely the position,
after that number, in which the new coin should be inserted in
the general detail exhibited in the previous text.
In some instances, descriptions of coins, already published, which
are specially referred to in the notes on the present supplementary
catalogue, have been re-produced entire ; and again, where correc-
tions of previous readings have been found necessary, the complete
legends, embodying the revised rendering, have usually been placed
under the proper (second) number, unaccompanied by further
remark.
122
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
LIST OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN.
CORRECTED FROM THEIR COINS.
Date of
Accession.
A.H.
No,
NAMES OF SULTANS.
589
602
607
607
633
634
637
639
644
664
685
688
695
695
715
716
720
720
725
752
790
791
793
795
795
797
815
817
824
839
849
854
894
923
937
946
952
960
961
962
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Mu'iz-ud-din Muhammad bin Sain (1st Dynasty).
Kutb-ud-din Ibek.
Aram Shah.
Shams-ud-dm Altumsh.
Rukn-ud-din Firoz Shah.
Sultan Riziah.
Mu'iz-ud-din Bahrain Shah.
Ala-ud-din Masaiid Shah.
Nasir-ud-din Mahmiid.
Ghias-ud-din Balban.
Mu'iz-ud-din Kaikubad.
Jalal-ud-din Firoz Shah, KUlji (2nd Dynasty).
Rukn-ud-din Ibrahim.
Ala-ud-din Muhammad Shah.
Shahab-ud-din Umar.
Kutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah.
Nasir-ud-din Khusru.
Ghias-ud-din Tughlak Shah (3rd Dynasty).
Muhammad bin Tughlak.
Firoz Shah bin Salar Rajab.
Tughlak Shah 2nd.
Abiibakr Shah.
Muhammad Shah bin Firoz Shah.
Sikandar Shah.
Mahmiid Shah bin Muhammad Shah (Timiir,800).
Nusrat Shah Interregnum, Mahmiid restored, 802.
Daulat Khan Lodi.
Khizr Khan Syud (4th Dynasty).
Mubarak Shah 2nd.
Muhammad Shah bin Farid Shah.
A'lam Shah.
Bahlol Lodi (5th Dynasty).
Sikandar bin Bahlol.
Ibrahim bin Sikandar (Baber, 930 A.H.).
Muhammad Humayiin, Moglml.
Farid-ud-din Shir Shah, Afghan.
Islam Shah.
Muhammad A'dil Shah.
Ibrahim Sur.
Sikandar Shah (Humayiin, 962 A.H.).
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 123
4xH SULTAN.]
SHAMS-UD-DIN ALTUMSH.
No. I.
(No. 14.) Copper. Weight, 47 gr. A.H. 623. R. My Cabinet.
Obv. ^$f
Rev. Centre
,
Margin djU "** *
No. II.
(No. 19.) Copper. Weight, 44 gr. V.R.
Obv. Square area .ILLuJ^ JA
Rev. Area as in No. 19 ,,lsL L *.-~
GTH SULTAN.]
SULTAN RIZIAH.
No. III.
(No. 27.) Silver. Weight, 164-5 gr. A.H. 635. V. R.
Colonel T. P. Smith.
Rev. Area
Margin *
No. IV.
(Nos. 28, 29.) Four new Coins of the same type as Nos. 28, 29,
distinctly confirm the reading previously given of
VOL. XV.
124 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
9iH SULTAN.]
NASIR-UD-DTN MAHMUD.
Among my notes on Unpublished Coins, I observe a
transcript of the legends of an interesting Medal in the
British Museum (Prinsep Collection), which was ap-
parently struck by Nasir-ud-din Mahmiid before he suc-
ceeded to the throne of Dehli.
The inscriptions on the coin read as follows :
The erasure of the marginal legend deprives this piece of
much of its historical value, as we thereby lose the record
of the place of mintage, though the && ^, which precedes
the Khalif's name on the reverse field, approximately de-
termines the date of issue. (See Briggs' Ferishtah, 1.210.)
IOTH SULTAN.]
GHIAS-UD-DIN BALBAN.
No.V.
(No. 42.) Gold. Weight, 1 62 gr. A. H. 68 (?)
Rev. Margin
12TH SULTAN.]
JALAL-UD-DIN FIROZ.
No. VI.
(No. 50.) Silver. Weight, 168 gr. A.H. 690. E.
No. VII.
(No. 50.) Silver. Weight, 165 gr. A.H. 692. R.
COINS OF THE PAT AN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 125
HTH SULTAN.]
ALA-UD-DIN MUHAMMAD SHAH.
No. VIII.
(No. 57.) Silver. Weight, 163 gr. Dehli. * A.H. 702. R.
No. IX.
(No. 57.) Silver. Weight, 168 gr. A.H. 706. R.
Archceological Society, Delhi.
Rev. Margin ^
No.X.
(No. 57.) Silver. Weight, 167 gr. A.H. 714. R.
No. XL
(No. 57.) Silver. Weight, 168 gr. Deogir, A.H. 714. Unique.
My Cabinet.
Eev. Margin - jj\ <sj
This coin is remarkable, as affording the earliest spe-
cimen, hitherto available, of the coinage of the newly con-
quered city of Deogir 2 a mintage so peculiarly identified
with the history of Ald-ud-din's early rise, and eventual
accession to sovereignty.
The year 714 impressed upon the piece under review,
offers a date but little removed from the epoch of Kafiir's
more comprehensive subjection of the Central Indian Pro-
vinces, of which Deogir constituted the then metropolis.
1 Since this was set up in type, I have been enabled to add to
the list of Silver Coins, the dates A.H. 698, 708, and 709.
2 The most ancient coin from the Deogir mint, previously
published, is Tughlak Shah's, No. 77, dated A.H. 721.
126 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
16TH SULTAN.]
KUTB-UD-DIN MUBARAK SHAH.
No. XII.
(No. 65.) Gold, square coin. Weight, 167 grains. Kutbdbad,
A.H. 719. V. R. Sir T. T. Metcalfe*
ji
Rev. Area
Margin
This coin presents us with the name of a new place of
mintage: we have no direct means of ascertaining the
locality indicated by the designation of Kutbdbdd ; this
however is the less a subject of regret, as there seems good
reason to suppose that the term was only momentarily ap-
plied to that portion of the many-citied Dehli, which had
the honor of constituting the immediate residence of
Mubarak Shah.
To put the reader in possession of some of the numerous
changes of position of the main city of Dehli, during the
time of the Patiins, I subjoin a concise summary of these
various migrations, from the Khulasat-i-Tawarikh.
3 Fraehn, " Numi Knfici," p. 81, pi. xxi., notices a similar gold
coin, minted in 720 A.H. The locality was doubtingly read by
him as
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 127
Ul jj
AjlJJ *^ j) JU.
J
J*J cXi/^ 1^ ^,*> JV
li loJ
128 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
16 SULTAN, continued.']
No. XIII.
(No. 66.) S.C. Weight, 47 gr. A.H. 716. R.
No. XI V.
(No. 66.) S. C. Weight, 55 gr. A.H. 716. Unique.
. VII
These two coins more fully confirm the rectification of
the date given by Ferishtah for the accession of Mubarak
Shah proposed at page 41 of my original text.
I observe that Zia-i-Barani himself gives 717 A.H., as
the date of Mubarak's formal inauguration as Sultan ; but
as Ala-ud-din's death took place on the 6th Shawal, and
Kafur was killed thirty-five days after that date, Mubarak
was clearly in possession of power during a brief portion
of the year 716 A.H., and, as we see, coined money in his
own name.
1 would take this opportunity of directing attention to the
alteration which took place in the designation of the silver
money under Mubarak Shah. His square silver coins a
novelty of his own introduction are denominated 4~j
in contradistinction to the &*dd\> which is constant on the
silver mintages of his predecessors, and which is retained
in use on Mubarak's own circular coins, up to the year
717 A.H. Subsequent to this, the word Ha&\ gradually falls
into disuse, and Tughlak Shah uniformly employs the term
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 129
18TH SULTAN.]
GHIAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAK SHAH.
No. XV.
(No. 76.) Gold. Weight, 168 gr. A.H. 725. Unique.
Rev. Area
Margin * * ^
No. XVI.
(No. 78.) Silver. Weight, 161 gr. A.H. 722. E. My Cabinet.
19TH SULTAN.
MUHAMMAD BIN TUGHLAK.
No. XVII.
(No. 82.) Gold. Weight (with a suspending ring), 213 gr.
A.H. 725. Unique.
No. XVIII.
(No. 82.) Gold. Weight, 99-0 gr. Unique.
" Defender of the laws of the last Prophet."
Rev. *L
No. XIX.
(No. 83.) Gold. Weight, " 12-80 grammes." D46gir, A.H. 727
Unique.
Obv. j\j
Rev. Area
Margin
130 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
For the above notice of this coin, I am indebted to the
owner, M. Soret, of Geneva, who most obligingly favored
me with a transcript of the legends of this unique piece,
previous to his own intended publication of a full descrip-
tion of the coin in " Les Memoires de la Societe Numis-
matique de St. Petersbourg."
No. XX.
(No. 83.) Gold. Weight, 198 gr. A.H. 728. R.
No. XXI.
(No. 83.) Gold. Weight, 198 gr. A.H. 729. R.
No. XXII.
(No. 84.) Gold. Weight, 169 gr. A.H. 739. Unique.
General T. P. Smith.
Obv.
Rev.
No, XXIII.
(No. 85.) Gold. Weight, 169 gr. A.H. 743. V.R.
No. XXIV.
(No. 87.) Silver. Weight, 138 gr. A.H. 727. Unique. Dehli
Archaeological Society. Small coin. Legends similar to those
on gold coin No. 83, with the exception of the word .J jmJl
which takes the p^.ace of .IjjjJ \
No. XXV.
(No. 88.) S. C. Average weight of eight coins, 139' 6 gr. (The
highest, 140 gr.) A.H. 729.
No. XXVI.
(No. 89.) S. C. Average weight of three coins, 140 '3 gr.
A.H. 130. R.
COINS OF THE PAT AN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 131
19TH SULTAN, continued.]
No. XXVII.
(No. 89.) S.C. Weight, 140 gr. A.H. 732. Unique.
No. XXVIII.
(No. 91.) Silver. Weight, 50'5 gr. A.H. 727.
No. XXIX.
(No. 92.) S.C. Weight, 52 gr. A.H. 725.
No. XXX.
(No. 92.) Silver. Weight, 51 gr. A.H. 727. Unique.
My Cabinet.
Obv. jlklUi 1 ^ J^s^ JjUM
Rev,
No. XXXI.
(No. 93.) Silver. A.H. 733, 735.
Copper, A.H, 732; Brass, A.H. 733; Silver, A.H. 734.
No. XXXII.
(No. 94.) Silver. Weights, 48-5 gr., and 51-5 gr. A.H. 734, 737.
No. XXXIII.
(No. 97.) Brass. Weight, 139 gr. A.H. 730. V.R.
Rev. Margin 4 j^ifc^J JL
3 2 1
b ^l?y _ * -^ * J~^ *** ***** ^ Facsimile. *
VOL. XV.
132 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
19TH SULTAN, continued.']
No. XXXIV.
(No. 97.) Brass. A.H. (?) Unique. Lady Sale.
Rev. Margin ......... &c.
No. XXXV.
(No. 99.) Brass. Weight, 132 gr. A.H. 731. R.
Sir H. M. Elliot.
Obv.
Rev. Area -- ^^-J^ fW ***
Margin (jjj juaifc^J JL jblL
No. XXXVI.
(No. 99.) Brass. Weight, 131 gr. A.H. 732. R.
No. XXXVII.
(No. 100.) Brass. Weight, 102 gr. A.H. 731. V.R.
No. XXXVIII.
(No. 102.) Brass. Weight, 64 gr. A.H. 732.
No. XXXIX.
(No. 103.) Copper. Weight, 51 gr. R.
Obv.
Rev. -Juus*. ^J>j " My Lord my Sufficiency."
No, XL.
(No. 106'.) Brass. Weight, 80 gr. A.H. 730.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 133
19TH SULTAN, continued.']
No. XLI.
(No. 106.) Brass. "Weight, average of six specimens, 81*3.
A.H. 732. R.
Obv.
Rev. ajLojtx-j J 4i~ <j
XLII.
(No. 106.) Brass. Weight, 79 gr. A.H. 730. Unique.
Rev. <
XLIII.
(No. 106.) Copper. Weight, 103 gr. A.H. 730. Unique.
Obv. <d!
XLIV.
(No. 107.) Brass. Weight, 53 gr. R,
Rev. -
No. XLV.
(No. 107.) Copper. Weight, 25 gr. Unique.
Obv.
134 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
19TH SULTAN, continued.]
No. XL VI.
(No. 109.) S. C. or C. Weight, 1 10 gr. R.
Obv.
flev. Area
Margin ajlo^Juoj * * * _ II a <
No. XL VII.
(No. 109.) Copper. Weight, 55 gr.
Rev.
No. XL VIII.
(No. 110.) S. C. Weight, 138 gr. A.H. 750. R.
Brass ditto. A.H. 749, 750. 751.
No. XLIX.
(No. 111.) Copper. Weight, 54 gr. R.
Obv. Juc^sy*
Rev. -
No. L.
Silver. Weight, 140 gr. A.H. 728. Unique.
Dehli Archaeological Society.
Obv. Area *{
Margin A^j
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 135
It is stated in Stewart's History of Bengal (p. 80), that
Muhammad-bin-Tughlak "newly come to the throne, ap-
pointed Rudder Khan to the government of Luknouti, and
confirmed Bhiram Khan in the government of Sunergong ;
these two persons are said to have ruled their respective
territories for fourteen years, with much equity and pro-
priety."
The coin, just described, is calculated rather to shake our
faith in some portion of these assertions a distrust, which
is to a great extent confirmed by an incidental notice of
Nizam-ud-din Ahmad's, who, in speaking of the largesses
distributed by Muhammad Tughlak, shortly after his acces-
sion, expresses himself to the following effect :
MS. Tabakdt-i-Akberi, page \ .1
So also Zla-i-Barani more distinctly
j Ike u-^
NOTE ON MUHAMMED TUGHLAK'S COINS.
The additional specimens of the coinage of Muhammad-
bin-Tughlak, above enumerated, permit us to trace with
some precision many of the epochs and details of his different
schemes for the distribution of the currency of his empire.
As illustrative of which, I proceed to offer a few observa-
tions on the principal modifications introduced by this
Prince of Money ers.
It will be seen, that even from the date of his accession,
Muhammad-bin-Tughlak discarded the style of coinage in
136 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
use among his predecessors, adopting a slightly varied form
of piece, impressed with entirely novel legends (Nos. 90^
92, 5 XXIX.). The generic term Sikka, already in vogue, was
retained as the designation of this money, which appears
from its weight to have been intended to pass as equivalent
to the silver currency of the previous reign, although there
is observable, even in this, the maiden mintage, a palpable
debasement of the component metal.
During the course of the first year of his reign, the Sultan
further re-modelled the circulating medium of his dominions,
and produced as the result, without exception, the most per-
fect models of Dinars and silver coins to be found in the
whole numismatic series of Patan kings of Dehli (Nos. 82,
87, etc.) ; the denominations given to these coins were for
the gold pieces, the revived term Dinar ; and for the silver,
the emblematic title A'dali The former weigh 200 grs.,
and a half-piece of an altered type is coined at 100 grs.
(No. XVIII.)
The silver coins weigh 140 gr. ; so that while the gold
coinage was raised from the old standard of 174 gr. to
200 gr., the silver money was let down from 174 gr. to
140 gr. This double alteration of weights would imply a
totally new adaptation of the relative equivalents of the
pieces of the two metals, and in itself suggests the question
whether an examination of the double scale of proportion
we are now in possession of, will not indicate the exchange-
able rate of the gold and silver coinages. We have no
means of ascertaining the precise proportionate value of
gold and silver during the earlier reigns of the Patan
dynasty ; though probably nominally fixed, it in effect must
5 I conceive this coin to be ||- of No. 90, or a 20 gani piece:
of tins, more hereafter.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 137
have fluctuated according to the supply and demand. During
the thirty years previous to Muhammad Tughlak's acces-
sion, the influx of the precious metals from the Dakhan into
Hindustan, had been unprecedented, more especially does
this appear to have been the case with gold : 6 hence we may
infer as there are many other reasons for doing that the
value of gold was at this time much below the usual pro-
portion. Assuming it at 1 to 14 of silver, and comparing
the old coinage weights with the new, 7 the result displays
the very convenient number of twenty as the amount of
140 gr. silver coins that should exchange for one 200 gr.
gold piece. However, looking to the very startling result
I shall have occasion to notice hereafter, obtained from a
comparison of the exchangeable rate of gold and silver
under A.kbar, which makes the former metal stand to the
latter as 1 to 9*4. I can scarcely ask reliance upon any
scheme that makes gold so high in relative value.
Supposing gold and silver to have been as 1 to 11, or
thereabouts, 8 then sixteen of the new silver pieces would
have formed the equivalent of the 200 gr. gold coin.
6 Dow, i. 307, text, p. 34. Zia-i-Barani f Vf etc. etc.
7 : 17 :: 174 x 14 (2436) : 200 : : 140 x 20 (2800).
8 Ferishtah, in detailing the events of Ala -ud-din's reign,
casually alludes to the relative value of gold and silver, but it is
difficult to say whether his estimate is based upon the relative
rate of his own day, or of that ascertained to have been in force
at the epoch referred to; his words are
p. r I + JjA-^ A_AJ j)j**^ S^/ *& _j^ jj (j^ cA-^j ^y
but ten krores would give a return of 1085 silver Tankas to one
gold one, which is absurd ; but if we correct the apparent error,
and substitute laks for krores, the sum stands at more probable
figures, thus:
40 Seers of 24 Tolahs each, the maund of the day, gives 960
Tolahs to the maund; this, multiplied by 96, equals 92,160
Tolahs, which, divided into 10,00,000 10- 85 ; so that, at this
rate, 10*85 silver pieces went to one gold Tankah.
138 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
The years 727-728 A.H., present us with fresh modifica-
tions both in the types and legends of the recently revised
coinage of Dehli. The examples, Nos. G. (83) 19, 20 : S.
(87) 24, (919) 28, exhibit the same elegance of design, and
accuracy of execution, that marks the earlier efforts of Mo-
hammad-bin-Tughlak's mint artists : the form of coin now
adopted was probably held, in many respects, to be an im-
provement upon the broad pieces antecedently put forth, as
under the Oriental method 10 of preparing the planchets
(blanks). The equable division of each could be effected
with far greater facility, when cut from a narrow bar, than
when divided into the thin plates necessitated by the ingot
of the larger diameter, calculated for the broad coins. In
addition to this advantage, the smaller size of the dies, and
the diminished depth of the engraving of the fine lines of
the legends, demanded less labor, in the process of striking,
to produce a perfect medal, than was required to complete
the impression of the broader and coarser coin of earlier
days.
The weights of this series of coins, both gold and silver,
appear to have been retained on the basis introduced in the
latter part of 725 A.H. The gold pieces do not seem to
have been subjected to any great metallic depreciation, but
the silver coins, in 728 no longer A'dalis (No. 88), progres-
sively deteriorate, till at last the proportion of copper ap-
pears even to predominate over that of the silver. In these
we may recognise the likeness of the " Black Tunkas" 1X of
9 In the new scale of proportions this must have stood for a
20 gani piece : 140 : : 50 : 56 : : 20.
See p. 101, orig. text. Also, Ayin-i-Akbery, i. p. 40.
1
COINS OP THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 139
Nizam-ud-din Ahmad and other Indian authors. 12 The
issue of these debased coins continued until A.H. 730, when
Mohammed bin Tughlak, seemingly tired of temporising,
developed his notable scheme of a forced currency, into
which no higher metallic element entered than copper or
brass.
I will not here recapitulate the various incidents of this
most interesting chapter in the history of coinages, but as
some of our late acquisitions throw much light upon the
details of certain sub-divisions of the silver money of the
time, I am desirous of saying a few words in connexion
with the subject. 13
12 Ferishtah adds (p. fTI Lithog. Edit.)
13 I extract, from a very excellent M.S. of the
of ^jLj (in the possession of Sir H. M. Elliot), that author's
account of the introduction, effect, and eventual fate of the forced
currency. This, in its general detail, differs but slightly from the
statements of subsequent authors ; but the proximate period, after
the occurrences related, at which Zia-i-Barani wrote (A.H. 758),
and of which he himself must have been an eye-witness, gives
his relation an authenticity we should vainly claim for the texts
of succeeding compilers.
The annexed passage is highly interesting in its allusion to the
classification of the different divisions of the currency of the day.
We find here gold and silver pieces mentioned; and, in the de-
scending scale, Shash-ganis and Do-ganis, as if these last con-
stituted, at the very least, important elements of the general
system of exchange ; if they did not in themselves complete the
intermediate links between the higher silver currency and the
copper coinage.
I should, however, propose to amend the Shash-gant, by the
substitution of Hasht-gani, inasmuch as we actually possess several
representatives of the latter, though none of the former ; and the
Shash-gani is expressly stated by Shams -i-Seraj to have been first
introduced in the succeeding reign,
I cannot close this note without acknowledging most warmly
VOL. XV. U
140 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
The Fifty-gani piece, No. 99, of the forced currency, in
its exact identity of weight with the silver Adali, may fairly
my obligations to Sir H. M.Elliot, for the free use I have been
permitted to make of the MSS. in his library. The coins in his
cabinet were placed with equal liberality at my entire command.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 141
be taken as the brass representative of the once compara-
tively pure silver coin of 140 grains. If this be conceded,
we next infer that the A'dali, in its original intent, was itself
a fifty-gani piece. The A'dali was a novelty, introduced,
as we have seen, by Muhammad Tughlak, on the occasion
of his general re-organisation of the currency during the
latter part of the year of his accession. Here again we
would enquire, whether, having attempted a definition of
the relative value of the gold and silver coins, a similar test
of proportions may not suggest a probable index to the
scheme of the division of account applicable to the silver
money. My impression is, that as the 140 gr. silver coin is
rated at fifty ganis, that so the old 174 gr. silver piece
should be valued at sixty-four ganis. 14 It is true the pro-
portions do not, at first sight, appear to tally ; 15 but I have
MS. Zid-i-Barani, pp. 493-4.
14 I have more cause to show for this opinion hereafter, at
present I let it stand on the evidence hereunto pertaining. But
I would here allude to the possibility of this modification having
arisen out of a desire on the part of the ruling power to assimilate
the Chital, or the nominal fiftieth part of the Tunkah with the
previously co- existent divisional term the gani ; which latter, in
the 1 74 gr. Tankah, was seemingly reckoned at 64, and which,
though itself to a certain extent nominal, had tangible repre-
sentatives of some of its compound measures of value, such as
eight gani, and 2 gani pieces.
15 : 140 : : 50 : : 174 : : 62-14.
142 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
reason to think that the silver coinages of the reigns imme-
diately preceding that of Muhammad Tughlak, were sub-
jected to an unusual degree of alloy which, taken in
conjunction with the concurrent general depreciation of the
precious metals, affecting silver (though in a less degree) as
well as gold, renders it probable that the 174 gr. silver coins
did not, at the moment, pass current for their previous
nominal value, and necessitated in consequence a slight rise 16
upon the weight, otherwise requisite in the new A'dali. I
naturally do not wish to urge any extended arguments in
support of so avowedly conjectural an hypothesis ; I there-
fore leave the question as it stands, open to all criticism.
But before taking leave of these fifty-gam pieces, I must
notice the increased confirmation my previous identifications
derive from a new reading of a single word in the legends
of this class of coins (Nos. 96, 97, 98, 99). Under the very
debased style of execution of the inscriptions, and almost
uniform omission of the diacritical points of the then avail-
able specimens of this mintage, subjected as they were to a
very cursory examination, the word now discovered to be
Tankah was formerly erroneously rendered Sikka, a term
far less specific than the designation Tankah, which we
obstrve in its full integrity on Sir H. Elliot's coin delineated
under No. XXXV.
The name Tankah, though applicable to a weight ap-
proximating to a tolah (Ferishtah, Briggs, i. 361), seems
to have been, in practice, the generic term for the current
silver money of the day ; for Ferishtah himself, in another
place, expressly says
p. 199, Bombay Litho. Edit.
16 : 64 : : 174 : 50 : : 135'93.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 143
Among other divisional parts of the A'dalf, I may notice
Nos. 100 and 101, which I conceive to be pieces of forty-
ganis ; their value is not specified on their surfaces, but I
judge of their authoritative value from their weight as com-
pared with that of No. 99. 17 In the lower description of
coins less care seems to have been taken in equalising the
weights. No. 103 approximates to the weight required on
a graduated scale of proportion for a twenty-gam piece;
and Nos. XLIV. and XLV., in their superscriptions,, declare
themselves severally pieces of eight and ^o-ganis in these
last, relation of weight is entirely discarded. Of course, in
a. forced currency, where all value was obviously disregard-
ed, it was a work of supererogation adjusting with any
nicety the weight of metal, especially where the coin bore
the impress of its own value ; but it is difficult to explain
why so much apparent care was taken in the one case
(Nos. 99, 100, 101, etc.) and not in the other.
Shams-i-Siraj,.in his history of the reign of Firoz Shah,
notices the introduction of several new sub-divisions of the
silver coinage, though the passage containing these remarks
might be referred to with advantage in this place, as illus-
trating the general question- 1 prefer reserving it for
examination under its proper head.
The word dirhem, which occurs in Nos. 105, 106, of the
representative currency, affords us the only instance of the
use of this designation on any class of coins minted at
Dehli. I suppose it to have some reference to the old
dirhems of Muhammad-bin-Sam, struck at Ghazni, many
of which must have found their way into Hindustan, and
which, probably in the early days of the Dehli Patans, served
as the basis of their silver standard. This would make the
17 : 140 : : 50 : 1 12 : : 40 :
144 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
old 174 gr. <Ua*J! coins, simply double-dirhems. I am not
prepared to demonstrate this proposition by references to,
or exact comparisons of, weights, inasmuch as the true
weight of the Ghazni dirhem, under the Ghoris, is still a
debateable point. 18 For the present, I merely suggest that
Nos. 105, 106, were designed to pass for dirhems, in value
one-half the 174 gr. silver coin, or thirty-two ganis.
The issue of this brass currency, as tested by its remains
which reach our hands in these days, appears to have been
discontinued in A.H. 732. Indian authors phrase it, "the
coinage was called in ;" though they admit that the state,
in proposing to reimburse existing holders, sadly miscal-
culated the available wealth, inasmuch as in the process the
public treasuries were speedily " emptied " of their bullion-
After this, monetary affairs must have remained for some
time in a state of singular confusion ; and though we meet
with a debased A'dali, dated A.H. 732 (No. XXVII), and
many minor alloyed silver pieces of different intermediate
dates, yet it is not until towards the year 736 that any sus-
tained issue of ordinary money is found to have taken place ;
from which date, singular to say, the original standard of
Muhammad-bin-Tughlak's predecessors is re-adopted, as
may be shown by the gold coins dated 736, 739, 742, etc.,
all of which approximate in weight to the old 174 gr. gold
coin; and this standard value is retained by subsequent
Dehli rnonarchs till the time of Shir Shah.
The concluding phase of our Sultan's coin-history ex-
emplifies his singular notion of inscribing the Egyptian
Khalif's name on the Indian coinage, in lieu of his own.
This observance was persevered in far beyond the freak of
18 Prinsep, J. A. S. B., vii. (1838) 417, "Weight, 73'4 to
92 6 gr." No. 1 Text, 74 gr. No. 2, 68 gr. Tajuddin's Coin,
p. 10, 96 gr. (!)
COINS OF THE PAT AN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 145
the moment, and extended from A.H. 742 to 751, the date of
Muhammad Tughlak's decease.
I have no additional remarks to make in regard to this
period of Muhammed Tughlak's coinage, beyond noticing
the great falling off in artistic execution, observable in all
these later specimens of his mintages.
20xH SULTAN.]
FIROZ SHAH.
No. LI.
(No. 113.) Gold. Weight, 169 gr. R. General T. P. Smith.
Obv.
The 3rd chapter, 4th book, of the Tawarikh-i-Fir6z Shahi
of Shams-i-Siraj, contains a detailed account of the arrival
at Dehli of the emissaries of the Khalif ^^ ^>\ M&\J>\
^Lo^Li ^^}\ ^c>\ who were the bearers of a Khal'at for
Firdz Shah. The narrative enters into the minutiae of the
Sultan's most respectful reception of his dress of honor,
notices the title bestowed on the occasion (^V- 5 ^lkab->j
jjjjjsjk-jlj^ e-^l^ss* gjjULwiyj and dilates largely upon
the high honor conferred insisting more particularly upon
the voluntary nature of the mission on the part of the
Khalif, as contrasted with the solicitation which had secured
a similar concession to Muhammad-bin-Tughlak. The
Shahzadah Fath Khan, and the Wazir Khan Jehan were
likewise invested with Khal'ats by the Egyptian Khalif 's
officers.
146 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
FiroVs coins of various dates record the names of no less
than three Egyptian Khalifs.
A.H. 741.
<dJU J^uU^Jt -rtlalll A.H. 753.
A.H. 763.
On no occasion, however, is the title of ^.j-j
expressed in connexion with the name of Firoz on his coins ;
though the designation ^.x^-al j^c! i, 6 ***> is frequently met
with.
No. LII.
(No. 113.) Gold. Weight, 170 gr. Unique. Gen. T. P. Smith.
Obv. a
Rev.
Margin
No. LIII.
(No. 1 15.) S. C. Average weight of six specimens, 139'5 gr.
A.H. 762, 765, 781.
No. LIV.
(No. 118.) S.C. Weight, 140 gr. A.H. 785.
147
XVI.
SUPPLEMENTARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SERIES
OF THE COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HIN-
DUSTAN. BY EDWD. THOMAS, BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE.
{Continued from p. 146.)
IN the original text of the coins of the Patan kings of
Dehli, to which the present paper forms an appendix, I
have adventured some speculations with a view to account
for the absence, from all modern collections,, of any coins
of Daulat Khan and Khizr Khan, and I have also en-
deavoured to trace the apparent design attending the
issue of certain posthumous coins of Firoz Shah,, minted
in 801, -4, -16, -17. The new dates on similar coins,
that I am at present in a position to cite, as well as those
now found to occur on coins of a like character struck
in the name of Mahmiid, enable me to take a wider range
of conjecture, or rather to propose a more extended and
more uniform theory in explanation of the previous difficulty.
I am not aware that I need cancel anything I have hitherto
written on the subject ; though, had the whole case to be
re-stated, the outline at the present moment would take a
different shape to that which the less complete materials at
command at first confined my sketch.
The coins described severally under Nos. 121, 122, old
series, and Nos. 55, 56, 72, new series, present us with
posthumous coins of Firoz Shah, dated 799, 801, 804, 816,
817,820, 824, 825, 830, as well as posthumous coins of
Mahmud, dated 816. These last may be received as mere
temporary continuations of the last existing currency : as
VOL. XV. x
148 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
such, they would not prove much towards the general
question, beyond the evidence they give of a temporary
failure on the part of the successor of Mahmiid to assert the
highly cherished privilege of striking coin in his own name.
This, however, in itself is enough to excite suspicion, were
there no other causes tending to confirm our belief that
Daulat Khan coined no money. In this same year, 816,
we notice a return to the use of Fir6z Shah's name which,
in fact, we have no means of showing ever to have been
discontinued and we trace its retention, on broken ex-
amples truly, but in all seeming continuity, from 815 to 830 ;
or a period extending over the problematical reign of Daulat
Khan, the vice-royalty of Khizr Khan, and the first six
years of his son, Mubarak II.'s rule. We have already
adverted to the entire want of any coins of two of these
rulers, and, singular to say? the coins of Mubarak himself
do not make their appearance among extant series earlier
than the year 832, from which date they are found in
abundant and uniform suites up to 839, the year prior to
this sultan's death ! Taking then the existence of one class
of coins almost in a continuous suite, in connexion with the
non-appearance of a single specimen of the mintages of any
existing holder of Dehli, between A.H. 816 and 832, we may
fairly assume that if money was struck by these parties in
their own names, it must have been in most limited quan-
tities, and simply in view to serve some special occasion,
and without any design of supplying the general currency
of the state.
No. LV.
(Nos. 121, 122.) Copper. Average weight of three specimens,
68 gr. A.H. 799800.
Obv.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 149
20'fH SULTAN, continued,']
No. LVI.
(Nos. 121, 122.) Copper. A.H. Af% 820. A.H. ATP 824.
A.H. Af o 825. A.H. Af% 830.
No. LVH.
(No. 118.) S. C. Weight, 84 gr. V.R
No. LVIII.
(No. 118.) Copper. Thick coin, much defaced. Weight, 106 gr.
Unique.
Obv. Area jl^j^J
Margin, illegible.
#>. a&U c
No. LIX.
(No. 120.) Copper. Weight, 134 gr.
Obv. J
Rev.
No. LX.
(No. 120.) Copper. Weight, 17 '4 gr. V.R. [A second, 17'8 gr.]
No. LXI.
(P. 4, Appendix.) " S. C." 136 gr. It.
Obv. jLo ail | jAi. .
Two others weigh 34 and 34 5 gr. respectively .
150 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
20TH SULTAN, continued.']
No. LXII.
(Ditto.) S. C. Weight, 138 gr. R.
Obv. As in the last coin.
Rev. JUi^U. CJcxLs. aJJ! j^xc ^\ ( j^ ^\^\ *U1 ^j J,
No, LXIII.
(Ditto.) S. C. Weight, 52 gr. Small coins of similar types.
No. LXIV.
(Ditto.) Copper. Weight, 67 gr. Unique. My Cabinet.
Obv. JILL* >lt i
NOTE ON FIROZ SHAH'S COINS.
Shams-i-Siraj gives us the following important informa-
tion regarding Firoz Shah's coinages, which I transcribe
verbatim.
v v
*lij j>r ;3
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 151
The original MS. from which the above passage is extracted,
is in the possession of the Nawab Zia-ud-din of Loharu.
We gather from this extract, that Firoz Shah either in-
troduced, or continued to issue, pieces of 48, 25, 24, 12, 8,
and 6 ganis. Muhammad-bin-Tughlak's coins have them-
selves satisfied us that this sultan had already supplied his
subjects with tokens for 50, 40, 32, 20, 8, and 2 ganis ;
between these two contributors we should in all reason have
enough of divisional proportions to afford a satisfactory
test of the indeterminate whole number. I will not attempt
to detain my readers with any arithmetical comparisons,
further than to remark momentarily upon the number of 48
in the above detail, which, looking to the other sub-divisions
now quoted, could have been but little required had 50 ganis
been the ultimate number to be exchanged against. In
some of the minor divisors we might readily be misled, but
the high number, 48, points so naturally to 64 (of which it
is the |th), that it at all events furnishes a subsidiary argu-
ment in favor of the full 64 ganis, as constituting the true
integer I have previously contended for ; so also the close
approximation of 24 and 25 ganis in the text quoted cannot
but indicate some double system of numeration, such as
has been already inferred as existing at different anterior
epochs.
However, to leave minor evidences, I am prepared to
152 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
affirm that the term gani, in its primary meaning, was used
to denote the weight of copper equivalent to certain sub-
divisional values of the complete silver coin, which last stood
at 174 grains of pure metal ; hence a silver piece of this
standard was valued at 64 ganis (sixty-four fold) of the
same quantity of copper, or more simply, at sixty-four times
its own weight in the latter metal ; 20 so that as the gold and
silver coins were each fixed at the uniform 174 grains, in
like manner, in this simple scheme, the copper coin of
account was rated at the same weight.
The practical sub-division was otherwise arranged, as
the use of unmixed copper in the coinage was limited in the
extreme, and confined in the early period of Patan rule to
pieces much below the value of 1 -64th of the silver coin.
That in the general system of Indian relative values of
metals, copper stood to silver as 64 to 1, we have ample
evidence to show ; 21 at what period any partial depreciation
of the former may have taken place we have less means of
ascertaining, but in the absence of any indication of such a
tendency, we may rest satisfied with the seeming fixity of
the ancient rate, and the existing proportionate values we
are able to quote as but little removed from the old 64 to 1 .
Adopting this view of the subject, each gani was cal-
culated at 174 grains of copper, and consequently the 174
grain silver coins were exchangeable against 11,136 grains
of copper. I do not at present attempt to identify any of
Firdz Shah's gani pieces, as their composition (silver and
20 Dr. Sprenger first suggested the idea of interpreting the
legend on Muhammad-bin-Tughlak's coin, No. 99 of the forced
mcy, as struck to pass for fifty times r
igh I do not adopt this reading, I ack
e correct line of translation.
H. T. Colebroke. As. Res., v., p. 95.
iv-^cnu. uii xtj.uiiainiuciu.-uJLu- JL u>iiiii.K. s uuiu, ix u. zy ui Liie lOrCUU
currency, as struck to pass for fifty times its own intrinsic value.
Though I do not adopt this reading, I acknowledge this priority
in the correct line of translation.
COINS OF THE PAT AN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 153
copper mixed) precludes any exact definition of their value,
without a regular analysis. - 2
22 I have had several specimens of Firoz Shah's mixed silver
and copper coinage assayed, under my own eye, according to the
native method, in the hope of drawing some satisfactory inference
from the determination of the actual component metal of the
different coins.
I must however admit, that far from deriving from the results
an affirmation of any anticipated theory, I am driven to accept a
most singular and somewhat dubious solution of the difficulty.
I should not ordinarily claim exact reliance upon any such im-
perfect process as the mere analysis by blowing off copper with
lead, under the treatment of Indian experimenters ; but I must
remark that this same native means, in use to this day, is identi-
cally that by which Firoz Shah's own coins were tested; hence,
however incomplete, however inexact to our European notions of
chemical analysis, still as this was the touch whereby the coinage
of the time had to be tried, the returns now obtained should sig-
nify with some accuracy the intention under which the given
series of coins was issued, and as such, admitting an absence of
any present error or fallacy in the mechanical portion of the
process, we may fairly argue thus far upon the premises we
have obtained these would seem to imply that though weights
were continued at one fixed rate for different denominations of
coins, the value of each mintage was regulated by the quantity
of alloy introduced; or, to speak more correctly, by the amount
of silver, added to the copper staple, which constituted the larger
proportion of the one uniform and determinate weight.
This supposition is greatly strengthened by a reference to the
general run of the weights, as well as to the metallic appearance
of these classes of coins. Among the very numerous sub-
divisional pieces of different values, we find, in the whole series
of Firoz's silver-copper coinages, but two differing weights, viz.,
140 and 56 gr. both of which adhere to the old standards.
There can be little doubt that the majority of this sultan's gani
pieces, even to the lowest " Dogani" (supposing he issued such a
coin), were composed of an admixture of silver and copper; amid
so many descriptions of this species of money as are represented
to have been produced during this reign, we might reasonably,
had no opposing cause intervened, have expected to meet with
some pieces corresponding in weight with the requirements of
the different grades, as proportioned to one another, and as has
been seen to occur in Muhammad-bin-Tughlak's coinage (Nos. 99,
154 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
The next point of interest in the text above quoted, is the
mention of Chitals. As the Chital has remained up to this
moment a disputed value, we may with profit endeavour to
trace its history through the double medium of our newly
accessible coins, and the collateral information supplied by
100, 101); practically, however, we find ourselves limited, as
already intimated, to two weights for the whole order of this
mixed metal currency. Concurrently with this fact, as afford-
ing grounds for acquiescence in the theory the assay seems to
force upon us, is the external appearance of the different coins
themselves : to the eye, the surface of each very palpably attests
the probable value ; and the many distinct shades, the varying
amount of silver lends to the usually predominating copper, af-
ford, even to the less practised perceptions of the present day,
a fair means of approximately estimating the intrinsic value ;
though it would appear from an anecdote related by Shams-i-
Siraj (Dehli Archceological Society's Journal, i., 33), in regard to
the debasement of certain gani pieces of Firoz Shah on which
occasion an assay was necessary to determine the truth that in
relying upon the more exact relative proportions of the two
metals in any given currency, much had to be taken upon trust,
and much had necessarily to depend upon the king's mark, and
the faith his subjects were prepared to concede to his subordinates'
equity.
I now detail the results of the different assays.
No. 1. S. C. Wt. 141 gr. A.H. 765. Result, 12 gr. Silver.
2. S. C. Wt. 131-5 gr. A.H. 767. Result, 23 gr. Silver.
3. S. C. Wt. 132-2 gr. A.H. 771. Result, 18 gr. Silver (worn).
4. S.C. Wt. 140 gr. A.H. 781. Result, 24 gr. Silver,
5. S. C. Wt. 140 gr. A.H. 788. Result, 17 gr. Silver.
6. S. C. Wt. 140 gr. A.H. 788. Result, 18 gr. Silver.
(No. 53.) 7. S.C. Wt. 132 gr. No date. Result, 19 gr. Silver.
( 116.) 8. S.C. Wt. average. No date. Result, 7 gr. Silver.
It would scarcely be safe to speculate upon such scanty ma-
terials in endeavoiiring to identify the 6 or 8 gani piece, especially
as having fixed the value of any given piece, we should afford no
clue to the determination of any other specimens, each of which
will have to be tried on its own merits.
No. 5 of the above list allowing for a slight over return in
the silver given as the rough result, and calculating the value of
the original copper at about equal to two grains of silver will
approximate very closely to the intrinsic value required for a
Sh ash -Gani.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 155
Indian writers. Fi'roz Shah is here represented as origina-
ting, for the benefit of the needy, certain new coins repre-
senting divisional parts of a Chita), which piece appears
from the context to have hitherto constituted the lowest
denomination of coined money ; and both the half and
quarter Chital are distinctly stated to be conveniences now
for the first time conferred upon the people by the presiding
authority in the state. In accepting this statement in its
full integrity, we must seek to identify these novel coins in
such diminutive form as we have not previously met with
in the Patan series. The lowest description of coin we can
quote, with any reliance upon the state of its preservation,
is a copper coin of Mubarak Shah I., No. 72, in weight
33 grains. Supposing this to be an exemplar of the pre-
existing Chital, Firoz Shah's new coins should run at or near
the half and quarter of this weight ; but we have a more
exact set of weights for our purpose, furnished by Fir6z's
own coins, one of which is so nearly equivalent to the coin
of Mubarak that we may fairly look upon it as a counter-
part of our assumed type of Chitals. No. LIX. (No. 120),
out of three specimens of the coin, gives as the highest
weight, 34'5 gr. And two examples of No. LX. give seve-
rally the weights, 17*4 and 17'8 gr. In order to obtain an
even sum, I propose to take the figures 34'8 and 17*4 gr.
as the true mint weights of these coins, at which rate the
missing quarter Chital must be placed at 8'7gr. Now
supposing the nominal value of copper to have remained in
Firoz's time much as it had ruled in preceding reigns a
division of the amount of copper, lately assigned as the
equivalent of the 174 gr. silver coin, by 34'8, gives a return
of 320 as the number of Chitals which should exchange
against the silver piece (11136 t 34'8=320).
Under this aspect, the coin denominated Chital must tie
VOL. XV. Y
156 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
looked upon as a Chhuddm, or, what subsequently became,
a quarter pysa. I am, I confess, unable to reconcile this
determination of the intrinsic value of the Chital with the
statements either of Abulfazl or Ferishtah ; to the former of
whom we should, under ordinary circumstances, bow to at
once in all matters relating to calculations of value ; but his
assertion that there were 1000 Chitals in a rupee is scarcely
to be credited, 23 as this would reduce Fir6z Shah's quarter
Chitals to the absurdly small amount of 3'235 gr. of copper. 24
Ferishtah avowedly possessed so little exact knowledge
on the subject that we can only rely upon such portions of
his information as may prove susceptible of confirmation
from other sources. The passage 25 in which he specifies
the relative coin value obtaining during the time of Ala-ud-
din, elucidated by some casual expressions of Zia-i-Barani
having reference to the same period seems to show that
whatever the actual coin designated Chital may have been,
that the term Chital was then used in account, as represent-
ing the fiftieth part of a Tunkah. That it was a nominal
MS. A. A. ^
See also Gladwin's Translation, Vol. i.. p. 36.
2 4 12940-MOOO or 323'5---25= 12-94: and 12'94-f-4=3'235.
See Note on Shir Shah's copper coinage.
25
Ferishtah, p. 199.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 157
measure of value employed arithmetically as conventionally
expressing the recognised sub-division of the silver money
of the day, without of necessity having any coined repre-
sentative.
Ferishtah's statement that there were fifty Chitals in the
Tunkah is distinct; but in attempting to define the actual
value of the former by fixing its corresponding weight in
copper, he expresses many and reasonable doubts, leaving
us indeed the open choice of one or nearly two tolahs.
It would be impossible to reconcile the data we have for
placing Firoz Shah's copper Chitals at the low value lately
assigned to them, with any scheme which would make the
Chital weigh l-50th of the copper equivalent of 174 grains
of silver. Hence we are almost necessarily led to infer that
the Chital was not only in account unquestionably the l-50th
of a Tunkah, but, moreover, that in its original signification,
the term must either have been applicable as the fiftieth part
of any given weight or value,, or was in itself the name of a
standard coin, constituting l-50th of the value of an earlier
silver currency. Under the latter view of the question,
there would be little objection to the deduction, that, co-
existent with the nominal Chital, employed to define the
broken parts of the whole Tunkah, a tangible coin of the
same name, but of a different value, remained current,
having possibly, as " the coin of the poor," survived some
previously recognised coinage, and in virtue of its extensive
use, retained a permanent place in the currency of the
country long after its higher associates had disappeared
before new schemes and new systems of coined money.
The assignment of fifty Chitals of account in the sub-
division of the current Tunkah, is sufficiently borne out by
the general tenor of Zia-i-Baram's notices of prices, etc.,
more especially in the full details afforded by the interesting
158 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Nirkh Namahs promulgated by Ala-ud-din, which he has
preserved to us in his Tarikh Firoz Shahi: in these lists all
rates are expressed either in Tunkahs or Chitals, and no
other denomination of value is in any case referred to. In
one instance only Chitals are quoted up to the number of
60, which, though comprising a measure of value beyond
the full Tunkah, offers no particular obstacle to the admission
of the theory that fifty Chitals go to the Tunkah itself, inas-
much as no simple fractional sum in Tunkahs would so
readily have conveyed to native comprehensions the true
amount it was desirable to indicate; but a more direct
approach to evidence of the value of the nominal Chital is
furnished by Zia-i-Barani's remark quoted below, 26 where
the juxta-position of 20 Chitals and the half Tunkah, aided
by Ferishtah's definition of the value of the former, naturally
suggests the progressive advance from 20 Chitals to the
25 constituting the half Tunkah.
I have vainly endeavoured to obtain some collateral illus-
tion of the general subject from Ferishtah's notice of Pills
(Jbi/ which I understand to be a measure of weight,
though possibly likewise a definite coin. Our author him-
self offers us two very strongly contrasted weights for our
option, 1 Tolah, and 13 Tolah; 27 and AbulfazF 8 informs us
that the Pill (in orig. Jj) of olden days, was equal to four
Tolahs. Between these varying amounts we have a broad
enough margin, though no single item affords any data that
will assimilate in their details with the amount of copper
L^Vb m~**sryj *
^ wit tfOJJ /-*.' ^1*.*^- ^" ~--"J^ >
Sir H. M. Elliot's MS. Zia-i-Barani.
27 Biigg's Orisr. MS. seems to have given J. Vol. i., p. 361.
28 A. A. iii., 89.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 159
assumed as the equivalent of the old Tunkah, which, taken
at 11136 grains, makes the l-50th equal to 22272 grains
of copper. Here again a new difficulty arises as to what
weight we are to allow to the Tolah itself, as fixed in those
days. The context of Ferishtah's observations, combined
with the ascertained average contents in grains of both
gold and silver Tunkahs, which are stated by him to be full
Tolah weight, would determine the old Tolah at 174 grains
only; whereas Shir Shiih's Tolah will be seen to rise to
186 grains. At the former rate, the copper contents in
grains of the Chital would give a return of something over
li Tolah.
21sT SULTAN.]
TUGHLAK SHAH II.
No. LXV.
(No. 127.) S. C. Weight, 53 gr. R.
Obv. *
23iiD SULTAN.]
MUHAMMAD BIN FIROZ.
No. LXVI.
(No. 134.) Silver. Weight, 171-5 gr. A.H. (7)93. R.
No. LXVII.
(No. 138.) Copper. Average weight of six specimens, 68*6 gr.
A.H. 794, 795.
25TH SULTAN.]
MAHMUD BIN MUHAMMAD.
No. LXVIII.
(No. 143.) Silver. Weight, 161 gr. R.
160 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
25Tii SULTAN, continued.'}
No. LXIX.
(No. 145.) Copper. Weight, 146 gr. A.H. 804. Unique.
No. LXX.
(Ditto.) Brass. Weight, 141 gr. A.H. 815. V.R.
No. LXXI.
(No. 147.) Copper. Average weight of six specimens, 68 gr.
A.H. 798, 800, 801.
In the single date expressed on the coins Nos. 151 C(J and
LXXI., the reader will detect an instance of curious nu-
mismatic testimony to the truth of recorded history con-
firmatory of a singular epoch in the annals of metropolitan
Dehli, when that capital, during a period of nearly three
years, was afflicted with two kings, residing en presence,
and in open hostility. The one, Nasrat Shah, occupying
the new city of Ferozabad, while his adversary Mahmiid
held the old town each possessing only his separate
quarter both claim, on their coins, to own " Imperial
Dehli."
No. LXXII.
(No. 147.) Copper. Two specimens. A.H. 816.
<2U To avoid needless reference, this coin is re-produced here.
(No. 151.) Copper. Date, A.H. 798.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 161
29xii SULTAN.]
MUBARAK SHAH II.
No. LXXIII.
(No. 152.) Silver. Weight, 174 gr. A.H. 835. V.R.
^
*
No. LXXIV.
(No. 153.) Silver. Weight, 171 gr. A.H. 837. V.R.
No. LXXV.
(No. 154.) Copper. Average weight, 83'5gr. A.H. 834, 835,
837, 838,
30TH SULTAN.]
MUHAMMAD BIN FARID.
No. LXXVI.
(No. 156.) Gold. Weight, 176 gr. Unique.
Obv.' $ll*ar^ ^UbJu J ^L
No. LXXVIL
(Ditto.) Silver. Weight, 1 75 gr. A.H. 846. V. K.
No. LXXVIII.
.) Silver. Weight, 168 gr. A.H. 84(?)
162 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
30TH SULTAN, continued.~\
No. LXXIX.
(No. 156.) S. C. 145 gr. A.H. 842, 843, 845.
Obv. Uj LLLs iLl-di- *Li>Juy A Li.
No. LXXX.
(No. 156.) S. C. A.H. 844, 849.
No. LXXXI.
(No. 156.) Copper. Weight, 136 gr. A.H. 844. V. R,
Obv. Area a^*,
Margin * *
No. LXXXII.
(No. 157. Copper. Weight, A.H. 843.
32ND SULTAN.]
BAHLOL LODI.
No. LXXXIII.
(No. 162.) S.C. Average weight of seven specimens, 144-4 gr.
A.H. 859, 863, 876, 879, 882, 887, 889, 892, 893.
No. LXXXIV.
(No. 164.) Copper. Average weight of six specimens, 71 gr.
A.H. 865, 867, 875, 877, 878.
No. LXXXV.
(No. 165.) Copper. Weight, 62 gr. A. H. 894. Unique.
Sir H. M. Elliot.
No, LXXXVI.
(No. 166 ) Copper. Average weight, 140 gr. A.H. 878, 879
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 163
NOTE ON BAHLOL LODI'S COINS.
In the occasional references to the cost of articles of con-
sumption, etc., to be found in Indian authors who flourished
but little subsequent to the reign of Bahl61 Lodi, we meet
with frequent mention of a coin which seemingly obtained
its name from this sultan, being entitled a Bahloli: 30 for
the correct understanding of the precise tendency of these
statements in respect to relative values obtaining in those
days, it is highly desirable to define, even approximately,
the real value of this coin.
Abulfazl tells us that the Dam of Akber's time " was for-
merly called Pysah, and also Bahloli." 31 If we are to accept
this assertion in its full import, it would apparently imply
that Shir Shah's, and other kings', heavy 323 grain copper
coins which I shall hereafter show to have been identical
in value with the Dam intermediately bore the name of
Pysah ; and, working upwards, we must seek for the
Bahloli in some piece of the monarch whose designation it
bears, of equal intrinsic value. I may safely challenge any
collector of Indian coins to produce me a copper coin of the
requisite weight, minted under the auspices of Bahl<51 Lodi ;
we are, therefore, reduced to the alternative of adopting any
mixed silver and copper piece that may answer to the proper
intrinsic value. The one-fortieth part of a silver Tunkah
of previous kings, would be 4*35 grains of that metal
(174-r-40=4'35), which may be reduced to the extent it is
necessary to allow for the intrinsic value of the copper
basis, which constitutes the main bulk of the coin. 32
3<> Elliot, Historians of India, p. 292.
31 Glad win's A. A. I. , 36.
32 I subjoin the rather unsatisfactory results of some assays
of coins of Bahlol Lodi; and in order to bring other Sultans'
VOL XV. Z
164
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
33RD SULTAN.
SIKANDAR BIN BAHLOL.
No. LXXXVII.
(No. 167.) Copper. Average weight of six specimens, 139' gr.
A.H. 898, 900, 901, 902, 903, 905, 907, 908, 910, 912, 913,
917, 920.
Abulfazl, in noticing the various descriptions of yard-
measures introduced at different times into Hindustan, makes
incidental mention of certain coins designated Sikandaris
upon the basis of a given number of diameters, of which
the Guz of Sikandar Lodi was formed. The class of money
just described evidently furnished, among their other uses,
the data for this singularly denned measure. Any tyro in
Indian numismatology, under whose eye many specimens of
coin- values into more direct comparison, I insert in this place the
analysis of a few pieces of Muhammad-bin-Farid and Sikandar
Bahlol.
(No, 156.)
No. 1, Muhammad-bin-Farid. A.H. 843. Wt. 141 gr. Result, S. 21 gr.
(No. 156. Small Coin.)
No. 2, Ditto. . . . (?) Wt. 57'5gr. Result, S. 6 gr.
(No. 162.)
No. 3, Bahlol Lodi . . A.H. 858. Wt. 138 gr. Result, S. gr.
(No. 162.)
No. 4, Ditto. . . . A.H. 859. Wt. 143 gr. Result, S. 15 -3 gr.
(No. 162.)
No. 5, Ditto . . . . A.H. 882. Wt. 145 gr. Result, S. 14 gr.
(No. 162.)
No. 6, Ditto. . . . A.H. 893. Wt. 141 gr. Result, S. 6'7 gr.
(No. 167.)
No. 7, Ditto .... A.H. 904. Wt. 136 gr. Result, S. 7 gr.
(No. 167.) ]
No. 8, Ditto .... A.H. 901. Wt. 134 gr. Assayed toge-
(No. 167.) ( ther; total result,
No. 9, Ditto. . . . A.H.918. Wt. 139 gr. a mere trace of
(No. 167.)
No. 10, Ditto . . . A.H. 919. Wt. 139 gr.
(No. 167.)
No. 11, Ditto . . . A.H. (?) Wt. 137 gr. Result, S. 5 gr.
silver.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 165
this mintage may chance to pass, cannot fail to remark, that
imperfect as their configuration undoubtedly is, as compared
with our modern machine-struck money, yet that they hold
a high place among their fellows in respect to their improved
circularity of form, and general uniformity of diameter
points which had certainly been less regarded in the earlier
produce of the Dehli mints.
The passage alluded to is to the following effect :
With a view to make these coins, even at the present day,
contribute towards our knowledge of the true length of this
Guz which is still a vexata qucestio, I have carefully
measured a set of 42 of these pieces, arranged in one con-
tinuous line : the result is, that the completion of the 30th
inch of our measure falls exactly opposite the centre of the
42nd coin.
The specimens selected for trial have not been picked,
beyond the rejection of five very palpably worn pieces out
of the total 48 of Mr. Bayley's coins, which I have at my
disposal.
The return now obtained I should be disposed to look
upon as slightly below the original standard, notwithstand-
ing that it differs from the determination of the measure put
forth by Prinsep (U. T., p. 88) ; but I must add, that Prinsep
himself distrusted his own materials, and was evidently
prepared to admit a higher rate than he entered in his lead-
ing table.
33 Page \Vf Sir H. M. Elliot's MS. Copy. Ayin-i Akbari.
See also p. 355, vol. i., Gladwin's Translation.
166 1SUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
We also gather from Abulfazl's note, that these Sikan-
daris were recognised in his time as containing a portion of
silver mixed up with the dominant copper.
No. LXXXVIII.
(No. 168.) Copper. Average weight, 55'5 gr. A.M. 905,907.
34TH SULTAN.]
BABER.
No. LXXXIX.
(No. 172.) Silver. Weight, 63 gr. A.H. 936.
35TH SULTAN.]
SHIR SHAH.
NO. xa
(No. 178.) Silver. Wt. 173 gr. A.H. 949. Mint doubtful.
No. XCI.
(No. 183.) Silver. Weight, 88 gr. A.H. 948. Unique.
Obv. Square area &\ J^ j^^ <jjJM a)W
Margin
Rev. Square area
Margin
No. XCII.
(No. 184.) Copper. Weight, A.H. 948, 949, 950.
Obv.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 167
35TH SULTAN, continued.']
No. XCIII.
(No. 186.) Copper. Average weight of four specimens, 31 6 gr.
Highest weight, 329 gr. Hissar.
w
0fo. Area
Rev. Area
Margin JGUaLj. I I <d!l
No. XCIV.
(No. 186.) Copper. Average weight, 316 gr. Highest weight.
322. Narnol. A.H. 948 (?), 950, 951.
Obv. Area
Margin
^v. Area
Margin
No. XCV.
(No. 186.) Copper. Weight, 314 gr. Shirgurh. A.H. 950, 951.
No. XCVI.
(No. 187.) Copper. Average weight, 312- 5 gr. Gwdlwr.
A.H. 950, 951, 952.
No. XCVII.
(No. 187.) Copper. Weight, 315 gr. Bidnah. A.H. 951. V.R.
Obv.
Rev. C\ i
168 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
35xH SULTAN, continued.']
No. XCVIII.
(No. 187.) Copper. Weight, 311 gr. Kdlpi. A.H. 949. E.
Obv.-
NOTE ON SHIR SHAH'S COINS.
Shir Shah's reign forms an important epoch in the suite
of Indian coinages, not only per se, but both as correcting
the accumulated deteriorations permitted by previous kings,
and as introducing many of those improvements which the
succeeding Moghuls claimed as their own. Though it is
due to these last to admit that their occupation of Hindus-
tan was followed by marked elaboration in the artistic
development of the emanations from the local mints due
either to the higher taste of the northern sovereigns, or to
the superior excellence of their foreign workmen still,
associated with these mechanical ameliorations, no effort
seems to have been made by these nomad kings to adopt
any system of coinage expressly suited to the wants of their
new subjects. The intention, in this regard, appears rather
to have been to force upon the conquered country the style
of coin and scheme of exchange in use in the distant king-
doms whence the invaders came. This exotic system,
owing however to causes other than any failure of merit of
its own, was doomed to be but short-lived ; inasmuch as
Shir Shah soon sat in the place of Humayiin, and, with the
advantages of his individual local experiences, and clear
administrative capacity, readily established the details of
the currency upon the most comprehensive basis ; and, as
the subject is followed out into its nicer shades, we are
satisfied that as the abundance of his coins now extant
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 169
attests the magnitude and settled nature of his power, so do
the numerous geographical records they display, assure us
of the unusual completeness of his subjects' recognition of
his sway.
Foremost among Shir Shah's monetary improvements
stands the supercession of the use of the time-honored,
though most indeterminate, admixture of silver and copper,
and the employment in lieu thereof of avowedly simple
metals. A cursory glance at any cabinet of the coins of the
later Patan monarchs will satisfy the enquirer, of the inter-
minable abuses a coinage composed of mixed metals of
unequal value was subject to in the hands of, on occasions,
unscrupulous rulers, and oftentimes, dishonest mint officials ;
were there no other reason, this alone would compel us to
recognise the policy of the changes now under review.
The authoritative reform of the coinage effected at this
period appears, from internal evidence, to have been accom-
panied by a revision arid re-adjustment of the relative value
of the lower metals, silver and copper.
There are no data to show at what rate silver exchanged
against gold in the time of Shir Shah ; but an examination
of Abulfazl's description of Akber's coin-rates, gives us the
very unexpected proportion of gold to silver, as 1 to 9'4. 34
34 I obtain this result from a comparison of the intrinsic con-
tents assigned to four several descriptions of gold coins in the
Ayin-i-Akbari, as compared with the corresponding total weight
of the silver money denned by the same authority as their ex-
changeable value. I understand both gold and silver to have
been pure. Actual assay shows Akber's gold coins to have been
totally unalloyed (see Prinsep, U. T., pp. 39, 43), and Abulfazl
himself directly asserts that the silver used in his master's coinage
was pure.
I append an outline of my data on this head.
1st. Chugul, weight in gold, T. 3, M. 0, R. 51=30 Rs. of
11 J Mashaseach : 549-84 : : 172-5 x 30 (5175-0) : 1 : : 9-4118.
170 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
The author's casual mention of certain other items of Shir
Shah's coin system, in illustration of that adopted by his
2nd. Aftabi, gold, weight, T. 1, M. 2, R. 4f =12 Rs.: 218-90
: : 172-5 x 12 (2070 0) : 1 : : 9-4563.
3rd. Ilahi, gold, weight, M. 12, R. 1| = 10 Rs. : 183-28 : :
1 72-5 x 10 (1725-0) : 1 : : 9'41 18.
4th. Adi Gutkah, gold, weight, 11 Mashas=9 Rs. : 165 : :
172-5x9 (1552-5) : 1 : : 9*40909."
The common Tolah of 180 gr., Masha of 15, and Rati of
1-875 gr., have been used in these calculations.
Annexed are the relative proportions given by Abulfazl, ex-
tracted verbatim from an excellent MS., Ayin-i-Akbari, and
collated with two other copies of the same work, for which I am
indebted to Ramsurn Dass, Deputy Collector of Dehli. I have
myself since compared this collated transcript with a well- written
MS. of the Ayin-i-Akbari of Sir H. M. Elliot's.
To present the details of the entire subject at one view, I also
subjoin the Rupee rates, determining the actual value of the silver
coins.
COINS OF THE PAT AN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 171
own master, throws much light on our present enquiry ; and
with the aid of the test the coins themselves supply, permits
of our forming a fairly approximate estimate of the general
scale of the more common monetary exchanges
I have previously assumed, from existing specimens of
the silver money of Shir Shah, that the original mint
standard of these pieces was calculated at an average
weight of 178 grains, if not more. Abulfazl's statement on
the point, scrutinised more critically than it has heretofore
been, affords a singularly close confirmation of this inference.
I find it recorded in no less than four excellent copies of the
original Persian Ayin-i-Akbari, that the rupee of Akber,
which was based upon that of Shir Shah, weighed 11^
mashas, the same weight (expressed also in words, and not
in figures) is assigned in these copies of the MS. to Akber' s
Jellalah, which is avowedly identical in value with the
former. 35 I mention this prominently, as Gladwin in his
translation (I. pp.29, 35, etc.) has given 11^ mashas as the
weight of each of these coins ; and Prinsep (U. T., p. 17),
in accepting Gladwin's figures, was led to place the weight
of the old rupee at nearly four grains below its true standard'
There is some doubt as to the exact weight we are to
allow to the masha, which varied considerably in different
parts of India. Prinsep has determined the Dehli masha
A.-WJ
*l
I take this opportunity of noticing some further errors of Glad-
win's original MSS. in connection with this subject. I. p. 56,
under Ilahee, for "12 mashas 13 ruttee," read " 12 mashas
1^ ruttees;" and for " is in value 12 rupees," read " 10 rupees.'
At p. 61, line 10, for 12J- mashas," read " 1 1| mashas."
55 Gladwin, A. A. L, G2, 59, 70.
VOL. XV. A A
172 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
to be 15 5 gr. (U. T., pp. 17, 18) ; and admitting this, the
result shows Shir Shah's rupee to have weighed 178 '25
grains of what was esteemed pure silver.
The assign ment of 15'5 grains to the Shir Shahi masha is
equally well borne out in the test afforded by Akber's own
coins. In order to avoid the very probable error of mis-
taking the identical class, among three but little varying
denominations of the gold coinage, to which any given spe-
cimen within our reach should belong, I confine my reference
to the silver money of Akber, which, though differing in its
various mintages, in types and legends, was preserved in
effect, uniform in weight and value. Marsden has con-
tributed an example (No. DCCCXXIV.) of a square Jellalah
of this Padshah, weighing 176 5 grains : had the tolah at
this time been fixed at 180 grains, this coin would contain
four grains more than the law required ; as it is, even
allowing for wear, it shows a return of 15'3 grains to each
of the 11| mashas of 155 grains, which should, under the
higher scale of weights, originally have constituted its total
on issue from the mint.
The adoption of this 15'5 grain masha as a standard, ne-
cessitates a concurrent recognition of a proportionately
increased weight in the tolah as then in use, we can scarcely
suppose the 12 mashas composing the tolah to have aggre-
gated 186 grains, while the tolah itself remained at the 180
grains modern usage has assigned it. We have fortunately
at hand a second means of proving the question in the due
determination of the intrinsic contents of the pieces com-
posing the lower currency of the period, and the result will
be found to show sufficient confirmation of the theory which
places the masha of Shir Shah at 15'5, and the tolah at 186
grains troy. Forty dams of copper, we are told, were, in
Akber's time, equivalent in account, and ordinarily in
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 173
exchange 36 to one rupee; and the dam of copper is itself
defined at 5 tanks, or I tolah 8 mashas and 7 ratis in weight.
The measure of value thus specified is likewise distinctly
stated to be a continuation of a previously existing species
of money, which, at the moment when Abulfazl wrote, went
by the name of Dam. There can be but little hesitation in
admitting, almost primd facie on the evidence available, that
the copper pieces classed under Nos. 185, 186., were the
identical coins of Shir Shah, to which the succeeding dams
of Akber were assimilated ; or, in other words, that they
were in weight and value (whatever their name) the dams of
the Afghan sultan. It is a nicer point to determine the
precise contents in grains attending the original mint issue
of these coins ; but first taking the figures now proposed for
mashas and tolahs, we obtain from 1 tolah 8 mashas and
7 ratis at 186 per tolah, a sum of 323 5625 grs. ; and then
testing this return of the actual present weight of extant
coins, we obtain a veiy reasonably close approximation to
our figured result. It is true that the general average of
the various existing provincial coins of this class minted
during the reigns of Shir Shah and his Afghan successors,
would necessarily run somewhat below the rate of 323 5
grains ; but we have to allow a considerable per centage
for loss by wear in such heavy coins, especially composed
as they are of copper, which metal would always continue
A. A.
174 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
more freely current, and consequently suffer far more from
the abrasion incident to frequent transfers, than the more
carefully guarded and less readily exchanged silver and gold.
However, we may, without claiming too much margin on
these grounds, fairly consider ourselves within the mark in
identifying the general series of coins under review as having
originally an intentional standard of 323'5 grs., inasmuch as
we can at this day produce several specimens of the coinage
weighing 322 grains, and, in one instance of a Hissar coin,
we can reckon no less than 329 grains. Added to this, we
have the evidence of Ferishtah that in his day there was a
pysa ! (or fixed weight ? JjJ ) which was rated at 1 tolahs,
which, at 186 grains the tolah, gives even a higher return of
324-5 grains.
At the same time, on the other hand, it would be impossi-
ble to reduce the coins that furnish our means of trial to
anything like so low a general average as would admit of
314 grains (or the produce of the simple 180 grains total)
being received as the correct issue weight.
Adopting then the rate of 323*5 grains as the legitimate
weight of these copper pieces, forty of which exchanged
against a rupee, we have a total of 12940 grains of copper
as equal to 178 grains of silver, which determines the rela-
tive value of silver to copper as 1 to 72'7. If this be a
correct estimate, there were in each dam 9*29 chitals; and
in the Shir Shahi rupee, 371'8 chitals, instead of the old
divisional coins of that name and value, which went to the
lighter silver piece of former days, when also the compara-
tive value of silver and copper stood at a more favorable
ratio for the latter.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 175
37TH SULTAN.]
ISLAM SHAH.
No. XCIX.
(No. 109.) S. Weight, gr. A.H. 954.
Obv.
Margin [ U^ [ -- ] -
No. C.
(No. 192.) C. Weight, 312 gr. A.H. 952, 953, 955, 956,
958, 959.
Rev.-
38TH SULTAN.]
MUHAMMAD ADIL SHAH.
No. CL
(No. 196.) 0. Average weight of three specimens, 317'6 gr.
Highest weight, 322 gr. A.H. 961, 962, 963.
Obv.
Rev.
No. CII.
C. Guah'er. A.H. 961, 962, 963, 964.
39TH SULTAN.]
SIKANDAR SHAH.
No. GUI.
(No. 198.) C. Weight, 34 gr. A.H. 962.
176 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE
ANONYMOUS COINS.
I have considered it preferable to class the Anonymous
Coins,, hereunto appended, under a separate head, as al-
though their dates would in general indicate the sovereign
under whose auspices they were struck, still the absence of
any sultan's name upon the individual piece, might leave a
possible doubt as to the true presiding authority of the mo-
ment, especially in money coming to us from such troublous
times, as witnessed the issue of these Fulus ; and, as ex-
actitude is a high conceit among numismatists, I would not
willingly so offend the prejudices of caste as to claim
reliance upon aught that was susceptible of question. These
nameless coins are therefore arranged in a series apart,
which plan has the advantage of bringing them all under
one view, and developing in continuity, the special merit
they possess, strangely enough, in greater perfection than
more imposing medals ; viz., of assisting in the elucidation
of their contemporaneous geographical status, and display-
ing in the fact the relative importance of the leading cities
of the epoch.
These coins seem to date their origin from Baber's con-
quest, and we recognise in the earlier specimens both the
hand and the art of workmen other than indigenous. The
practice of striking coin in subordinate cities also appears
to have been an innovation introduced by the Moghuls, who
drew a wise distinction between the importance of the
lower currency of copper, and the money fabricated from
the more costly gold or silver. The absence of the king's
name likewise indicates a departure from Indian practice,
under which we have uniformly seen the designation of the
supreme authority impressed upon the copper money equally
with the coins of the precious metals.
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 177
Baber's introduction of the fashion of his Bokhara 37 money
into Hindustan, was destined to be attended with more per-
manent results in the case of the coins of the poor than in
that of his more elaborately executed Dirhems and Ashrafies.
The average weight of the pieces of this class is very
uniform at something over 140 grains a total we have
frequently met with in the earlier coins of Patan issue.
About 92 38 therefore should exchange against a Shir Shahi
rupee. It is not so manifest what exact proportion they
bore to Baber and Hamayiin's 71. gr. silver coins, but if we
can rely upon the weights of the extant specimens of the two
coinages of different rnetals, the anonymous Pysa should
run at 32 to 36 39 per Dirhem.
No. CIV.
C. Weight, 142 gr. Agra. A.H. 936. Unique.
Obv. Circular area, with a margin of fine lines run in a scroll
pattern. Legend gj$\ L _ > .*
ft ev . Oblong area, with ornamental scroll margin.
Legend Ulj &~> j> 1M
No. CV.
C, Weight, 135 gr. A.H. 936.
Obv.
Rev. As above.
37 Frahn's Eecensio, p. 432. etc. M. Soret Lettre sur la Nu-
mismatique, June, 1 843, p. 28.
ss i2940-f-140=94-4.
39 : 174 : : 11136 : 71 : : 4544, which by 140=32-4 : 178
: : 12940 : 71 : : 5161-4, which -7- by 140=36'8.
178 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
No. CVI.
C. Weight, 142 gr. Agra. A.H. 937, 938, 939, 940, 941,
942, 943,
Obv. Plain surface, with the legend y.^4}lJlAjg ^_ .*
Rev. - Simple marginal lines encircle the field; the inner por-
tions above and below the legend are filled in with
scroll-work. Legend ^ r*V ^J jlj <U-o ^
No. CVII.
C. Weight, 141 gr. Agra. A.H. 943.
Rev . As in the last coin.
No. CVIIL
C. Weight, 141 gr. Lahor. A.H. 938, 939, 940.
Rev. <\ r A ^ \j <j^ J
^
No. CIX.
C. Weight, 141 gr. Dehli. A.H. 940, 941, 942, 943.
Obv. Jjjjj tKLcJljb c_^
/?ew. As usual.
No. CX.
C. Weights, 143 gr. Mandot. A.H. 941, 942. R.
Rev. As usual.
No. CXI.
C. Weight, 139 gr. Dehli. 'A.H. 943. Unique. My Cabinet.
Obv. ^^A ^b*- ujXcJljU c-^J R.
/?ev. As usual.
No. CXII.
C. Weight, 140 gr. Jaunpur. A.H. 940, 941.
Obv. jjjJjJj- <da~U -- R.
#ev. As usual,
COINS OF THE PATAN SULTANS OF HINDUSTAN. 179
As likely to assist those, who would pursue the study, in
the future identification of the place of issue, recorded on
any new specimens of these coinages, I subjoin an Alpha-
betical List of the mints in use under Akber, as detailed by
Abulfazl.
Attok . .
AJmir
Ahmadabad
Agrah . .
Alor . . ,
Allahabad .
Oudh 4 .
Oujein , .
Budaon .
Benarus . .
Bengal . .
Bhakar .
Pattan . .
Patnah . .
Tandah . .
Jalandar
Jounpur . .
Hissar . .
Dehli . . .
Ranthambor
Sarangpur .
U2T>-
Seronj
Sirhind .
Sunbhul .
Surat
Saharanpur
Scalkot V
Kanoj . ,
Kabul . ,
Kalpi . .
Kashmir
Kalanjar
Gualiar .
Gorakhpur
Lahor
Lukhnao
Muthrah
Multan . .
Mandot . .
Nagor . .
Hurdwar
fr 5
tXx^f
VOL. XV.
B B
180
NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
LIST OF MINT CITIES OF THE PATAN KINGS OF DEHLI.
1. Agrah.
2. Bianah.
3. Dehli.
4 fDeogir.
\ Daulatabad.
5. Gualiar.
6. Hissar.
7. Jounpur.
8. Kalpi.
9. Kutbabad(Z>A/0-
10. Lahor.
11. Mandot.
12. Multan.
13. Narnol.
14. Shirgurh.
XVII.
NOTICE ON CERTAIN UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE
SASSANID^E. BY EDWARD THOMAS, BENGAL CIVIL
SERVICE
IN lately examining the extensive collection of Imperial
Sassanian Coins in the British Museum, with a view to other
objects, my attention was called to the number of novel
types that still remained unpublished. Conceiving that a
notice of these might be acceptable to the readers of the
Numismatic Chronicle, I had arranged with Mr.Vaux to
scrutinise the whole series, selecting, as we proceeded, the
more remarkable medals for illustration in this periodical.
I had advanced so far as to have secured materials for
the first plate, when circumstances connected with my return
to my duties abroad rendered it necessary for me to bring
my portion of the undertaking to a hasty conclusion ; but I
trust my, as yet only nominal coadjutor, will continue and
perfect what I have thus summarily commenced.
- 1 J H (> I J a :) *1 / U
J. Hasire del.etsc.
UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE SASSANID/t.
UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE SASSANIDvE. 181
ARDESHIR BABEGAN.
A.D. 226240.
No.l. Gold. Weight, 131 gr.
No. 2. Silver. Weight, 54- 5 gr. Unique.
Obv. Legend imperfectly engraved, and only partially in-
telligible.
Rev. Legend imperfect, but apparently similar in tenor to
that on the Reverse of No. 1.
This medal contributes numismatic testimony to an in-
teresting historical incident the association of Sapor I. in
the government with his father, Ardeshir, during the life-
time of the latter. 2
SHAPUR I.
A.D. 240273.
No. 3. Silver. Weight, 56 gr. Unique.
This is the earliest instance of the use of the Sassanian
crown terminating in the head of a bird, which subsequently
became a favorite device.
\yj - (jwj Afire temple.
Farhang-i-Jehangiri.
2 Tabari notices this inauguration as follows :
etc.
182 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
VARAHRAN II.
A.D. 277294.
No. 4. Silver. Weight, 63 gr. Unique.
Obv. 3 The remainder illegible.
Rev. -Imperfect. 'fKYD jKTni
No. 5. Silver. Weight, 9'5 gr. Unique.
The obverse of this coin presents us with a new type. I do
not attempt to transcribe the straggling legends.
No. 6. Silver. Weight, 67 gr. Unpublished variety of the
usual type.
0fo>.-imK i
VARAHRAN III.
SEGAN SHAH.
A.D. 294 .
No 7. Silver. Weight, 61-5 gr. Rare.
Obv. Imperfect. nTO-Jfc JN ...... Jb
J?ei;. Imperfect. X113 ...
HORMAZDAS II.
A.D. 303310.
No. 8. Gold. Weight, 111 gr. Unique.
Above the flame of the Fire Altar.
The usual style of the legend is continued on coin No. 6,
UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE SASSANID^. 183
The highly-finished medal engraved under No. 8, possesses
for us a double interest, in the novelty of its type and com-
pleteness of its legends, as well as in the means it affords us
of identifying the monarch under whose auspices it was
struck,- in his connexion with certain Indo-Persian pieces,
which emblemise, in their reverse designs, the Hindu wor-
ship of Siva.
Written history might naturally have led us to look for
some sign of Eastern influence incident upon the marriage
of Hormuzctas II. to a daughter of the king of Kabul ; and
the numismatic testimony of proximate lands had already
instructed us that the coinages of the countries bordering
the Eastern limits of the Sassanian empire, at or about the
same period, had felt and recorded the introduction of
certain elements of Persian civilisation in the adoption of
portions of the imperial style of decoration. 4 But the co-
incidence of the obverse types and legends of coins, Nos. 8
and 11, furnishes a much more extended field for speculation,
especially in what might be termed the religious aspect.
Though I myself would confine the conclusion to be drawn
from the reverse device of No. 11 to a simple supposition
of the conquest by, or cession to, the Sassanian monarch,
of a province the produce of whose mints was ordinarily
decorated by the design of Siva and his Bull.
No. 9. Copper. Weight, 32 gr.
o^.-fcO^fc nTDiniK
No. 10. Copper. Weight, 33 gr.
4 Wilson, Ariana Antiqua, xiv., fig. 17, etc Journal Royal
Asiatic Society, Pehlvi Coins of Mohammedan Arabs, vol. xii.,
p. 337.
184 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE
No. 11. Copper. Weight, 38'5 gr.
Obverse legend nearly similar to No. 8.
Since the date of the publication of M. de Longperier's
"Essai sur les Medailles des rois Perses/' in 1840, although
our knowledge of the Pehlvi language has been but little
advanced., the facility of reading and interpreting the coin
legends has been aided most materially by the excellent
treatise of Professor Olshausen, 5 and by the letters of
MM. Soret 6 and Mordtmann. 7 With the enlarged means thus
afforded us of testing the accuracy of M. de L/s general
classification, and detail transcripts and translations, we are
necessitated to adopt a number of emendations ; a summary
of which may suitably be inserted in this place.
LIST OF ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN THE "EssAi SUE
LES MEDAILLES DES ROIS PERSES."
P. 2, for " beh" (good), read Bag! (divine).
P. 2, for " lezdani," read Nowazi; and the same throughout
the series.
P. 44, coin No. 40, pi. vii. 2, belongs to Izdegird I., and not to
Ardeshir II. The reading may be amended, from " Mazdiesn
beh R[am] Artahche[tr] iezdani M. M.," to Mazdisn bagi Rama-
tah-i 8 Izdakarti M. M. The reverse is an imperfect engraving
of Izdakarti Nowazi.
P. 45. The same correction applies to the transcript of coin
No. 41, and a corresponding change is requisite in the attribution
of No. 42, pi. 7, fig. 8.
5 Num. Ohron,, vol. ix. 6 Lettres Geneve.
7 Zeitschrift der Deutschen morgenlandischen Gesellschaft.
1850.
8 The preferable reading, from the best examples, is
Ramashtari, or Lamashtari.
UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE SASSANID^. 185
P. 52. The three emendations just made necessitate an altera-
tion in the appropriation of coins Nos. 47 and 48, pi. viii., 3 and
4, which must for the future be assigned to Izdegird II. The
amended readings stand as follows: No. 47, for " [Ma]zdiesn...
Izdkerd Malc[an], read Mazdisn ... [Izda]karti Kadi. 9
No. 48, for "Mazdies[n] ... Izdkerd Mal[can]," read Maz-
dis[n] ... Kadi Izdakarti.
P. 62, No. 53, pl.ix., 2, for " Mazdies [n] ... Pirozi." read
Madi Kadi Firuzi.
P. 63, No. 55, pi. ix., 4, for " Obv. Soup[rai]," read Aum
(as the engraving shews). For "Rev. P[i]rouz," read
Trin (II.) Tariik, or possibly Maliik. 10
P. 68, No. 57, pi. x., I, for Rev. Kavad," read Duazd[ah].
P. 70, No. 59, pi. x., 3, is a coin of Kobad, not of Jamasp.
For " Obv. Zimasp," read Kiiat Af[ziid]. For " Rev. (?),"
read Hashtdah 18.
P. 72, No. 60, pi. x., 4. Obv. Afzu[t] Husriid. Rev.
Left, Husriid : Chahar Sih. (34). Right, (?).
P. 74, No. 61, pi. x., 5. Rev. Shash wist. (26).
P. 75, No. 62, pi. xi., 1. Obv. Afzii Auharmazi. Rev.-
Tol[t]a, three.
P. 76, No. 63, pi. xi., 2. Rev. Asri, ten.
P. 78, No. 64, pi. xi.. 3. Rev. Haft Sih (37) (?)
P. 80, No. 68, pi. xii., 1. Rev. Trin. (2) Besh/or Beiza.
P. 81, No, 69, pi. xii., 2. For " Obv. Sarparaz (?)," read
Afziit Aumar-i-Aubitaran, Aumar son of Obeidallah. Rev.
Left, Hasht Shasht (68, A.H.). Eight, Hoth, Capital of Khu-
zistdn.
P. 82, No. 70, pi. xii., 3, for " Ofo.Sarpara [z] (?)," read
Afziit Aumar. Rev. Chahar Hachtad Tapuristan.
P. 83, No. 71, pi. xii., 4. for " Obv. Pouraan," read Afzut
Farkhan. Margin, Aft for " Ab'd." Rev.~ Tapuristan.
9 \&>- See Hamzah Isfahani, pp. IT, 47,
interfectores, <X^l_3|^^ Livre des Rois. Mohl. Journ. Asiatique,
1841, pp. 145, 278.
10 See Journal of the Koyal Asiatic Society, " Sassanian Mints,' T
etc., note under Mint No. 1.
180 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
P. 85, No. 72, pi. xii., 5, for Obv. Zermf, retrograde" read
Hani. jlfc in Kufic. Bev. Tapuristan.
P. 85, No. 73, pi. xii., 6, for " Obv. bU^ Eoustam (?)," read
Mukatil. Jj'liU in Kufic.
Having disposed of the more obvious cases for correc-
tion, I would now refer to a question that suggests itself
regarding the validity of the attribution of the class of coins
assigned by M. de Longperier to Sapor II. (PI. vi. 1, 2 3,
and 4), which, I should propose to transfer entire to the
first monarch of that name.
In the first place, there exists a striking similarity be-
tween the reverses of Nos. 3 and 4, pi. vi., 11 and the style
obtaining on the six opening coins of pi. iii., or the recognised
pieces of Sapor I. The leading features and general de-
tails in each may indeed be said to be identical. The
obverses of these coins likewise vary but slightly, and these
marked signs of unison occur in contrast to the progressive
modifications introduced intermediately by kings who
reigned between the epochs of the two Sapors. But passing
by the obverses, whose variations are patent, let us trace more
exactly the reverse designs in the order defined by our
author. Sapor I. reverses have the two fire-altar sup-
porters, the ministering Mobeds, habited alike both wear
the priestly tiara.
The medals of Varahran I., the next king in succession
of whom we have money, introduce us to the practice of
pourtraying on the reverse the full figure of the king to the
11 I avoid urging the absolute identity of the reverses of
Nos. 1 and 2, pl.vi., with the still earlier type of Ardeshir I.'s
money, because I have found nearly similar reverse devices on
the coins of Varahran IV. (389, 399. A.D.); though the argument
loses little weight notwithstanding.
UNPUBLISHED COINS OF THE SASSANID^. 187
left of the altar, wearing the distinguishing crown, and
habited, to all appearance, as the bust on the obverse.
Varahran II. continues this usage, with still further
modifications in the other portions of the general design.
Varahran III. and Narses, adhere to the style and fashion
employed under Varahran I.; and Hormuzdas II. generally
follows this lead, though he innovates so far as to add the
head of Ormazd amid the flames of the altar. Whereas the
so-affirmed Sapor II., under M. de Longperier's classifica-
tion, is made to revert to the full simplicity of the ancient
type introduced by, and otherwise peculiar to, the earlier
monarch of the same name.
Another point of some weight in the due appropriation
of these medals consists in the tenor of the inscriptions on
each class. I am aware that ordinarily the bar-helmed
Sapor coins have the legend which omits the An irdn, and
terminates with Minuchatri Min Izddn ; while those with
the simple crown, depicted in pi. vi., 4, usually give the ad-
ditional geographical definition, and reject the concluding
phrase ; but this proves nothing against the position I ad-
vocate, as Ardeshir I. originates the first-named practice on
his coins, and his inscription at Naksh i Rustam accords in
its style. Whereas Sapor I., in his inscriptions, uniformly
assumes the contrasting An irdn ; and of his successors
next in order whose coins we are able to quote, both Va-
rahran I. and II., adopt in full the reference to the extra
Iranian dominions on some of their coins (Longperier,
pi. iii., 7, and coins in Brit. Museum), while on others they
follow the custom obtaining on Sapor I. coins, Nos. 1, 2, 3,
4, etc., pi. iii. Having briefly noted the objections that
suggest themselves to the existing appropriation, I leave
the question open for future discussion.
VOL. XV. C C
188
XVIII.
COINS OF HELENA.
IT is well known to all numismatists what uncertainty has
prevailed respecting the classification of those coins bearing
the name Helena, from a very early period. The older
numismatists appear to have had no rules whatever, but to
have classed the coins indiscriminately to Helena the
mother of Constantine, or to Helena the wife of Julian.
In Argelati's edition of Mezzabarba, they are classed
partly to the first, partly to the second, without any attempt
to discriminate the coins belonging to each. Banduri pro-
posed a system of classification as follows : He classed to
Helena wife of Chlorus, and mother of Constantine, those
coins bearing FL or FL. IVL ; to Helena the supposed
wife of Crispus, those with N. F ; and to Helena wife of
Julian, certain coins reading FL. MAX, described by Strada 1
and Tristan. 2 Eckhel, 3 in 1779, classed the coins in the
imperial cabinet according to the rules of Banduri; ex-
pressing, however, a doubt of their correctness ; and in his
" Doctrina Numorum Veterum," he entered upon the sub-
ject at length, proposing a different arrangement. Even
after the time of Eckhel, some numismatists seem to have
retained the old system, as Alessandro Visconti, 4 who, like
1 Strada a Rosberg, Genealogia Austrise Ducum, &c,, &c.,
p. 169. Fol. Lugd. Bat 1664. This edition, the only one I
have, gives HELENA MAX.
2 Tristan de St. Amant, Commentaires Historiques, tome iii.
p. 733.
3 Catalogue Numorum, Mus. Cses. Vindobon, tome ii. p. 450.
4 Indicazione delle Medaglie del Signer Pietro Vitali.
Rome, 1805.
COINS OF HELENA. 189
Mezzabarba, classed under Helena Chlori some with
SEOVRITAS, and some with PAX; arranging, however,
under Helena Juliani similar coins, without any assigned
reason. EckhePs system, however, was adopted by most ;
and after the sanction of Mionnet, it may be considered as
having been established. Marchant, however, in his very
valuable " Lettres sur la Numismatique et PHistoire," lettre
XVII, impugned the system of Eckhel, and proposed to
class all the coins bearing the name of Helena to Helena
wife of Chlorus, and to remove altogether from numismatic
lists the names of Helena supposed wife of Crispus, and
Helena wife of Julian. This arrangement involved also the
classification of the coins of Fausta to Fausta wife of
Constantine alone, and the removal of the name of Fausta
wife of Constantius. Some years afterwards, M. Lenor-
mant adopted and completed the conclusions arrived at by
Marchant, in a paper in the "Revue Numismatique" for
1843, which has been reprinted as an annotation to Mar-
chant, in the recent edition of his Lettres (Paris, 1850).
Although the conclusions of Marchant appear to have
been proved as completely as possible, I have reason to
believe that they are but little examined or regarded in this
country; and it is with the hope of forwarding this, that I
have undertaken the present paper, in which there will
appear but little unmentioned by Marchant or Lenormant.
As the arguments of so high an authority as Eckhel deserve
careful examination, even when he was mistaken ; and as,
from the high price of his classic work (the Doctrina),
it may not be in the hands of many numismatists, I have
thought it better to translate that part referring to the coins
of Helena, which will be followed by the refutations and
arguments of Marchant and Lenormant, and by what
original observations it has been in my power to make.
190 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
I commence by giving a summary description of the
coins, in the order of Eckhel; adding from Mezzabarba
two or three varieties (Nos. 9, 10, 11) now unknown, and
perhaps apocryphal, simply to complete the subject. If
any apology for this is needed, it will be found in the fact
that Eckhel himself has quoted a coin (No. 8) on .the
authority of Strada and Tristan, which he considered very
doubtful.
There are, in all, eleven varieties of coins bearing the
name of Helena : four of these (the last four) are, however,
unknown at present, if they ever existed.
1. FL. IVL. HELENAE AVG.
R PAX PVBLICA. Peace standing, holding in one hand
a branch, in the other the hasta-pura. J&. IIII.
2. Same obverse.
R PIETAS ROMANA. Female standing, holding an
infant. M. IIII.
A reverse of Theodora, applied by mistake to the head
of Helena.
3. FLAVIA HELENA AVGVSTA.
R FELICITAS. AVGVSTA. Female standing with
branch and hasta-pura. JEt. medallion.
R PIETAS AVGVSTAE. Female standing, holding a
4. Same obverse.
IETAS A
child and a globe; another child by her side.
JEi. medallion.
5. FL. HELENA AVGVSTA.
R PROVIDENTIAE AVGG. Praetorian camp. M. III.
A reverse of Constantine, used by a similar error to
that of No. 3.
6. Same obverse.
R SECVRITAS REIPVBLICE. Female standing, hold-
ing downwards a palm branch. AV. and JEi, III.
A specimen is given as silver in the Catalogue of the
Collection of Mr. Brumell, lot 1 10; but it was probably
plated or washed, as it brought only 11s.
COINS OF HELENA. 191
7. HELENA N. F.
R No legend. A star in a laurel garland. vE. III.
8. HELENA FL. MAX.
R Same type AV.?
(Strada. Tristan).
9. FL. IVLIA HELENA AVGVSTA.
R SECVRITAS PVBLICA. Female seated, holding a
branch. JEi.
(Mezzabarba, p, 441, from Ducange, " Constantinopolis
Christiana," Tab. 2).
10. FL. IVL. HELENA AVGVSTA.
R SECVRITAS PVBLI. Same type. M.
(Mezzabarba, p. 449, from " Chifletii Anasthasis Childe-
rici Regis," p. 278).
1 1 . FLAV. IVL. HELENA AVG.
R GLORIA EXERCITVS. Two soldiers standing, be-
tween them the labarum. JE.
(Same reference).
The words of Eckhel are" Banduri says, that the coins
with FL and FL. IVL belong to Helena Chlori. If this is
the case, how are we to account for the exergual CONS,
the certain mark of Constantinople, according to him ?
For it is certain, that at the time when Helena Chlori died,
the name of Constantinople was almost unknown. It fol-
lows, that the coins, Nos. 1 and 6, on which this name is
often found, cannot be of this Helena, nor of Helena Crispi,
since Crispus died before Byzantium received this name.
In spite of this, however, there are good reasons for sup-
posing the coins No. 1 to be of Helena Chlori. 1st. On
these coins the names Flavia Julia appear, which are known
to have belonged to her from an inscription in Gruter
(p. 284, 1). 2nd. The exergual letters on these coins cor-
respond with those on coins of Constantine, and differ from
192 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
those of the coins of Julian. 3rd. Upon comparison of
these coins with those of Theodora, second wife of Chlorus,
it appears that they have a very great analogy, as well in
fabric and size, as in the exergual letters, and the unusual
form of the obverse legends, in the dative (FL. IVL.
HELENAE AVG. FL. MAX. THEODORAE AVG), which
would appear to prove them of the same period. Since it
is certain that the coins of Theodora were struck during
the reign of Constantine, we must suppose these coins also
struck in his reign.
"But how, it may be asked, are we to get over the
objection made to Banduri, with respect to the CONS on
these coins? Certainly in no other way than by pointing
out that they were dedicated by Constantine to the memory
of his deceased mother, which is exceedingly probable,
since we have the testimony of Eusebius to the fact that
Constantine struck gold coins with the portrait of his
mother Helena. He appears, however, to have erred as
regards the metal; for no gold coin of this description has
yet been found. Theophanes mentions the same fact,
without mentioning the metal. But a better argument is
supplied by the formula HELENAE; for we know that,
since Augustus, the dative was used on all dedicated coins.
For the same reason, it is probable that the coins of
Theodora were struck after her death.
"For the above reasons, it can hardly be doubted
" That No. 1 is of Helena wife of Chlorus ;
" No. 2, with the legend PIETAS ROMANA, is doubtless
of the same, both because it has the same obverse legend,
and because it has a reverse found on the coins of Theo-
dora;
" Whether No. 3 should be classed to this Helena, or
elsewhere, is uncertain, the legend being altogether new.
COINS OF HELENA. 193
Iii the mean time, it appears probable to me that it belongs
to Helena Chlori ;
" No. 4 must also be of this lady ; for a similar reverse is
found on medallions of Fausta, who was contemporary with
her. From the obverse legend, it is manifest that it was
struck during life, which is to be remarked also of the
rest;
" No. 5 has on reverse a type and legend common under
Diocletian and his colleagues, but ending with Constantine,
so that it must belong to Helena Chlori ;
" The coins described as No. 6, from the different style
of head-dress, and the exergual letters, are certainly of a
different Helena ; and since these exergual letters are of the
same kind as those on coins of Julian, it is probable that
they are to be classed to Helena the wife of Julian.
We may add, that the expression REIPVBLICE for
REIPVBLICAE, is found on no coins of Constantine, but
came into use after him, and is often found on coins of
Julian. Besides this, the legend SECVRITAS REIPVB is
common upon his coins.
"No. 7, which has on obverse, HELENA NOBILISSIMA
FEMINA, and on reverse a star in a garland, was classed
by Banduri to Helena wife of Crispus, who from the title
denied that it could be of Helena* wife of Julian. He
declared that it was the custom, when a lady of royal birth
married a Caesar, to bestow on her the title e Augusta;' but
if not of royal birth, only that of 'Nobilissima Femina/
I will not dispute this usage, though I doubt whether it was
universal. The type of a star points to Helena Juliani,
since there are coins of Julianus, while Caesar, with the
same type. I hardly think, however, that the title Augusta
would have been denied to this lady, as I have said, in her
life. This coin may, I think, then, be classed to Helena,
194 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE,
wife of Crispus, particularly on account of the resemblance
to the coin of Fausta, who was probably the wife of some
one of the sons of Constantine, as I have said after the
coins of Constantius II. But it must be remembered, that
it is by no means certain that the wife of Crispus was
named Helena."
From a comparison of the brass coins, HELENA. N. F.
R A star within a garland (Akerman, Descriptive Cata-
logue, II. pi. xi. 10 ; Marchant, Lettres, edition of 1850,
pi. xvii. 1 ; or, Revue de Numismatique, 1843, pi. vi. No. 1),
and those with FAVSTA. N. F. (Akerman, ut sup. p. 281 ;
Marchant, pi. xvii. 7 ; Revue, pi. vi. 7), it is very evident
that they must belong to the same period. Eckhel classes
the first to the supposed wife of Crispus. Crispus was
born A.U.C. 1053. ? In 1070, when about seventeen, he was
declared Caesar ; and was put to death by Constantine, in
1079. These coins, therefore, if of his wife, date before
1079, and were probably struck at his marriage, which we
may approximately reckon as A.U.C. 1070. But Constan-
tius II., to whose wife are classed the coins reading
FAVSTA. N. F., was born in 1070; so that we must
adjourn his marriage a considerable time. We cannot
well suppose his marriage to have taken place before
A.U.C. 1085 or 6, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, when
Crispus had been nine years dead.
These coins manifestly were issued at the same time.
Marchant was inclined to think that the same reverse dies
were used for both obverses, which is a point for examina-
tion. These coins, then, can hardly be ascribed to the
wives of Crispus and Constantius II., even if these ladies
really bore the names Helena and Fausta, which is very
uncertain. The only possible attribution, then, is to Helena
the mother, and Fausta the wife, of Constantine. EckheJ,
COINS OP HELENA. 195
indeed, gave one reason for supposing this type of Helena
to be of Helena wife of Julian the presence of the star,
which, he says, is a type of Julianus Caesar. In this case,
the coin of Helena must be supposed struck during the life
of Constantius. Marchant, however, has already pointed
out that the character of Constantius was not such as to
warrant the supposition. I have approximated to the date
of the marriage of Constantius above, while Helena was
married to Julian A.U.C. 1108. On these coins, as may be
seen by the engravings referred to, the portrait of Helena
is aged, that of Fausta youthful. This is directly the con-
trary to what should have been the case, as may be seen by
the dates. The coins with FAVSTA. N. F. have the same
portrait precisely as those which have always been classed
to Fausta wife of Constantine, as may be easily seen. A
comparison of the coins with HELENA. N. F. ? and those
belonging to Constantius Augustus and Julianus Caesar, is,
I think, sufficient, without any other evidence, to show that
they cannot be classed to that period. The exact resem-
blance of these coins (Fausta and Helena) in every respect,
and the fact that some have the exergue TSA (Treveris
signata in Ofticina prima), and no other mint, has led
Marchant to class them to the year A.D. 307 A.U.C. 1060,
when Constantine married Fausta, daughter of Maximianus,
at Treves, his mother Helena having been recalled from the
exile in which she had remained since her repudiation.
At this time, Constantinus was riot Augustus, but only
Nobilissimus Caesar. His father-in-law, Maximianus, con-
ferred upon him the title of Augustus ; but as Galerius
Maximianus was opposed to this concession, Constantine
prudently contented himself with the title of Filius Augus-
torum ; that is, of Constantius and Maximianus. Not being
himself Augustus, his wife did not receive the title Augusta,
VOL. XV. D D
196 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
but that of Nobilissiraa Femina. The coins show that he
conferred the same title on his mother. These coins are, I
think, proved to belong to Helena mother of Constantine.
As for the coins No. 8, with HELENA. FL. MAX., they
have not been seen since the time of Tristan. The coins
Nos. 9, 10, 11, also are unknown at present. Marchant
supposes that No. 11 is simply a permutation of dies, such
as is not uncommon at that period ; and it is not improba-
ble by any means. Eckhel has sufficiently proved that the
coins Nos. 1, 2, can only belong to Helena mother of Con-
stantine. No. 2 is an example of the permutation above
referred to. 4 So also is No. 5. Eckhel was obliged to
class this coin to Helena mother of Constantine, from the
type. He says, however, that it is a type common under
Diocletian and his colleagues, ending with Constantine.
To me it appears that it begun and ended under Constan-
tine. The camp of Diocletian, etc., is very different from
that of this coin. I am surprised that the resemblance
between this coin and No. 6 could have escaped Eckhel :
it is so great, that Banduri, in engraving the coins of
Helena, engraved only one obverse for the two reverses
Providentise Augg., and Securitas Reipublice. Yet Eck-
hel says of No. 6, " that the different style of head-dress,
and the different exergual letters, point to a different lady
from the rest/' As for the head-dress, I think the fact
already mentioned, from Banduri, is a sufficient answer.
Marchant, however, mentions six different modes of arrang-
ing the hair on coins of the type No. 6. Are we to suppose
six different Helenas in addition to the historical ones ?
4 I have only just noticed, in the Catalogue " Garcia de la
Torre," p. 296, No. 4793, a coin of Theodora with the reverse of
Helena PAX PVBLICA, which forms a counterpart to No. 2,
a reverse of Theodora with the head of Helena.
COINS OF HELENA. 197
I have seven specimens of No. 6, on which appear four
varieties of head-dress. I have also three of No. 1, on
each of which the hair is arranged somewhat differently.
He goes on to say, that the exergual letters on these coins
differ from those of Constantine, and agree with those of
Julian. Yet, in a preceding page, he had mentioned, that
Banduri and Galland classed these coins to Helena mother
of Constantine, because these letters agreed with those of
Constantine, and differed from those of Julian. He simply
reversed this assertion, and it has been received without
examination since his time. M. Lenormant says, "It obser-
vation trouve ici difficilement son application, puisque les
memes differents se trouvent sur la monnaie de Constantin."
This is the truth, but not the whole truth; for they are
hardly found on coins of Julian at all, in spite of Eckhel's
assertion.
In order to test this assertion, which I doubted some-
what, in a fair manner, I took Banduri and Tanini, books
at Eckhel's command, and transcribed the "differents" on
coins of Helena, type No. 6 ; not selecting, but taking all,
except one apparently erroneous, TXAK- (perhaps T-X-AR).
These I found to be forty-seven in number. I then com-
pared these first with the third brass coins of Julian, then
of Constantine, in both works. The result was, that of the
forty-seven "differents" of Helena, three were found on coins
of Julian, and thirty-six on coins of Constantine. I think
there is no great need to add much to this proof of the time
when these coins were issued. There are, however, a few
points remaining.
Eckhel supposed that Eusebius was wrong in stating,
that Constantine had struck gold coins with his mother's
effigy, because none such were found with a dedicative
legend. M. Lenormant has clearly shown that Eusebius
198 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
does not state that these coins were struck after her death.
Eusebiu. , after describing the funeral of Helena, relates
what her son had done for her during life, such as
" causing her to be recognised as Augusta, striking gold
money with her effigy, putting at her disposal the treasures
of the empire." This distinctly mentions the issue of gold
with her portrait, among the things done during her life-
time. The entire passage, with a translation, may be con-
sulted in Marchant, p. 236. Thus the gold coin No. 6
unquestionably belongs to Helena mother of Constantine,
and the brass coins cannot be separated from it. These
brass coins, besides, are so identical in fabric with those of
Fausta Salus Reipublicae, and Spes Reipublicae, that it
is impossible to attribute them to any other period than
that of these coins, which have always been classed to
the wife of Constantine, and were probably first struck
A.D. 308, when Constantine became Augustus with the
consent of Galerius. As he had previously conferred on
his mother the same title (Nobilissima Fernina) as was
borne by his wife, it is probable that he continued the
system, and that this date may be assigned to the type
No. 6.
Eckhel argues, that the orthography " Reipublice " was
not in use in the time of Constantine, but was common
under Julian ; and that " Securitas Reipub." is a very
common legend on his coins. I hardly think the first a
sufficient consideration to outweigh all the other proofs ;
but it may be answered by quoting a medallion of Fausta,
reading, PIETAS AVGVSTE (Akerman, II., 247). As
for the other remark, these coins belong to a period when
Helena was dead, and have nothing to do with the ques-
tion.
Lastly, there exists, in the Museum of the Scottish
COINS OP HELENA. 199
Antiquaries, a coin which appears to me to complete the
proof that these coins (No. 6) belong to none but the mother
of Constantine. It is as follows
FL. HELENA TINVS AVG. Head of Helena to right.
R SECVEITAS REIPVBLICE. Security, or, according to
Lenormant, Helena, standing, holding a laurel branch.
In exergue, STRE. III. M. (Mus. S. S. A.).
This coin has not been re-struck, as has been thought.
This is easily seen, both by the state of the whole coin, and
the perfect agreement in form of all the letters. The only
way to account for the legend is by supposing the attention
of the engraver to have been called off during his work,
and that he mechanically finished the legend with what he
had been most accustomed to; so that the coin must have
been struck during the reign of Constantine. Similar
examples are not wanting in the history of numismatics.
I need only mention the AERES AVGVSTI of Titus, which
probably belongs to this class (AEQVIT AS CERES), the
DES. NOS. of Aurelius (Froslich, Quatuor Tentamina, 1737,
p. 374 : " Numus ex aere magni moduli, exquisitae integri-
tatis et elegantige ") It is not improbable that the coin of
Aurelius, AVG. COS. VII. AVG. COS. nil., which Froelich
quotes from the Historia Augusta of Harduin, was also of
this class. I have no doubt many might be found scattered
in Rasche's Lexicon, which I am unable to consult. A
coin in my own cabinet, however, furnishes a very good
example
IMP. LICI MINVS P. F. AVG. Laureated head.
R SOLI INVICTO COMITI. Sun standing. In exergue,
MOSTQ. III. M. (W. H. S.).
It is size 6, but thin, and belongs to the third brass.
200 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
Banduri suspected that a coin which had been published
with CONSTANS. IVN. NOB. was either false or re-
touched. Froslich, however (Quatuor Tentamina, p. 432),
vouches for the integrity of a specimen he had seen, and I
am able to do the same.
CONSTANS IVN. NOB. C. Diademed head to right.
R GLORIA EXERCITVS. Usual type. In. ex. SMNA.
III. M. (W. H. S.).
It is, however, simply another specimen of this species of
blunder.
A specimen of a yet more extraordinary kind is found in
the Museum here ; namely, a discordant type and legend
SALONINA AVG. Head to right.
R SALVS AVG. Venus Victrix standing, holding helmet
and spear; at her foot a shield. In exergue, PXV.
III. M. (S.S.A.).
In the Catalogus Numorum Regis Daniae, Hafniae, 1816,
Professor Ramus has published a coin which I must not
pass over ; though it may not benefit the question much,
from its state
" CRISPVS NOBIL. CMS. Epigr. litteris multum detritis.
" R SECVRITAS REIPVBL . . . Mulier stans d. denissa
ramum, s. vestis laciniam ; in imo . . . III. M.
"Monetarii error in hoc numo commissus videtur, sumto
aliunde aversse partis typo. Occurrit hie in numis
Helenee quos Helense Juliani tribuit Eckhelius, quod
assertum falsi argueret prsesens numus, nisi pars ejus
adversa non leviter attrita numum non nihil incertum
redderet" (ut sup. vol. iii. p. 258, 48).
. I think the coin of Diocletian (Num. Chron., July, 1852,
p. 76), which reads, DIOCLETIANVS NOB. 0, is another
example of the error above referred to. I have not seen
COINS OF HELENA. 201
M. Senckler's book, and do not know what are his answers
to objections ; but it appears to me decisive to point out
that it was certainly neither in the period " after the death
of Numerian and before the murder of Carinus," or at the
commencement of his own reign (assuming that he, as a
measure of policy, styled himself simply Caesar), that he
would have elaborated a new monetary system. If the
coin had been struck in the debateable period above men-
tioned, or at the commencement of his reign, it would have
borne the characteristics of the coins of Numerian and
Carinus. In place of this, it belongs to a new monetary
system, that of the follis, and bears a new type. For
these reasons, it seems to me clear, that it must belong to
a later period of the reign of Diocletian, and be owing to a
monetary error similar to those of HELENA-TINVS,
LICI-MINVS, etc. It is certain that Diocletian and
Maximian had the title of Caesar; but it is not easy to
suppose that Diocletian ever bore that title exclusively.
The medallion with CONCORDIA C^ES. AVGG. N. N.
would be more satisfactory if it read, CAESS. AVGG. As
it stands, it seems to me to signify, " Concordia Caesari-
ana" (?) in a general sense, rather than " Concordia Caesa-
rum Augustorum nostrorum."
I have omitted as yet to mention the objection drawn
from the occurrence of CONS, on No. 6, to the attribution
to Helena mother of Constantine, who died before the con-
secration of Constantinople. If this objection is sufficient,
however, we must find another Crispus ; for several of his
coins read, CONS., PCON., etc Mezzabarba gives one,
repeated by Banduri; and Mr. Akerman has described a
gold coin with CONS. Crispus died A.D. 326. Coins of
Fausta, who died in the same year, have also CONS. To
explain this, we must suppose that, although the solemn
202 MJMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
consecration of Constantinople only took place A.D. 330,
the mint was in operation some years before. Certainly
the public buildings, and those in any way appertaining to
the imperial dignity, would be first completed; and the
mint has always been directly under the imperial control.
The difficulty is greater with respect to the coins of Fausta,
which were probably first struck A.D. 308. The issue of
these coins may be supposed to have been continued during
her life,, although all I have seen have a portrait so similar,
as hardly to favour this view. She died A.D. 326, not long
after Crispus.
There is another explanation, which has been offered by
the late Mr. Borrell (Sale Catalogue, 1852, p. 81, lot 834,
note). He recalls the fact that, in 316, Constantine con-
ferred many benefits on the city Arelate, which took the
name Constantina, in gratitude to its benefactor. This
certainly removes some difficulties, if it can be adopted;
but I know not whether it can be altogether confided in, as
the name ARL occurs on coins of and after this period,
which would appear to show Constantina to have been
merely a surname, and not to have superseded the old
name ; consequently, not to be expected upon coins. This
difficulty, therefore, remains not cleared up in a completely
satisfactory manner. I have a coin of Crispus with Q. ARL.
Coins of Helena (No. 6) have AELS, ARLT, TARL.
I have not thought it necessary, nor indeed would I have
found it easy, to quote the names of Marchant and Lenor-
mant for every clause belonging to them. I can only say,
that for by far the greater part of the arguments and illus-
trations given, I am indebted to one or other of these
writers, and that I have still left a good deal untouched.
I would most earnestly recommend to the perusal of
all interested in the subject, the 17th Letter of Baron
NUMISMATIC RECTIFICATIONS. 203
with the annotations appended to it by M. Lenormant,
in the Parisian edition of 1850, where it will be found more
elaborately treated than it has been in my power to do in
this imperfect essay.
WILLIAM H. SCOTT.
XIX.
NUMISMATIC RECTIFICATIONS.
WHILE acknowledging, to the fullest extent, the great
value of Dr. Smith's Dictionary of Geography, I have to
regret the occurrence of various numismatic errors, doubt-
less unavoidable in a work of such labour, and intrusted to
so many different writers. I have given below an account
of all such as I have observed in the four Parts published.
Abdera Becticae. Eckhel imagined, from a coin in
Florez with the letters DD, that Abdera was a colony or
municipium under Tiberius. Sestini, however, pointed
out that this coin had been retouched. Florez had already
proved, in opposition to Havercamp, that Abdera never
had been a Roman colony (See Falbe, Les Antiques Mon-
naies d' Abdera, in Numismatic Chronicle, VoL XIII. p. 24^
etc).
Acci. The quasi-autonomous coin published by Florez,
Tab. li. 4, which has on each side C. I. G. AC, repeating:
also the type a legionary eagle between two standards
but has I on the obverse, and II on the reverse, would appear,
as remarked by Sestini (Med. Isp. p. 99), to point out the
first and second legions, rather than the third L I. II.,
VOL. XV. E E
204 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
instead of L. III. The disposition of the letters on the coin
engraved by Akerman (Ancient Coins, PL vii. No. 3), seems
to corroborate this view. The sixth legion certainly occurs
on coins of Augustus ; and it may seem opposed to this
view, since we might expect the colony to be called Tri-
gemina, not Gemina or Gemella, as when drafted from two
legions. Mr. Akerman (p. 12) gives a coin of Emerita
with LE. V. X. and the two standards ; denoting, as he
says, the two legions. From analogy, therefore, we should
expect the coins of Acci to bear at once the two legions
from which the colony was drafted. Yet the coins of
Augustus have L. VI alone, with two standards. Vaillant
(Numismata Coloniarum, 1697, p. 9) explains this as de-
noting the two legions, Sexta Ferrata and Sexta Victrix ;
and I think this meets the difficulty of the name "Gemina"
and two standards occurring with one legionary number.
In the reign of Tiberius, again, drafts were made to the
colony from the first and second legions no mention of the
sixth legion occurring on his coins. I may remark, that I
am not aware of any coins of Acci with the head of Mars
surrounded with rays.
Achilla, Achulla. I am not aware of any bilingual in-
scriptions relating to Achulla, The reference to Gesenius
points out the well-known colonial or municipial coin of
Augustus, some specimens of which have a countermark,
with the three Punic letters, Tp.
Aebura. The coins given by De Saulcy (Essai sur les
Mon. de 1'Esp., legend 100 ; Akerm. p. 95) show, either
that the Aiflopa of Ptolemy was distinct from Aebura, or
that Libora is the more correct reading. The Tauchnitz
Ptolemy, the only one at hand, gives Ai/Bopa ; but Ortelius
(Thes. Geograph. 1587) gives At,/3c0pa, quoting Ptolemy.
The Spanish coin reads, LBARI or LBROI, the long A and
NUMISMATIC RECTIFICATIONS. 205
being confounded. The coins reading, AIPOKA and
EPORA not, so far as I know, APORA are Bcetican in
type and fabric, and certainly belong to Epora, now
Montoro not to Aebura in Tarraconensis.
Aemona. The name of Aemona, or Haemona, certainly
does not occur on coins. Perhaps the coins referred to
may be those of Augustus with COL. IVL. AVG., the attri-
bution of which to Colonia Augusta Vindelicorum is men-
tioned by Sestini, in his Geographia Erronea. But these
coins have been long since restored to Berytus in Phoenicia
(See the coin engraved in Vaillant, Num. Col. 1697, p. 1 1).
Agendicum. The coin in Akerman (Ancient Coins,
p. 156, pi. xviii. 11) with ATHA, clearly points to Agedin-
cum, or Agedicum, as the proper form.
Alexandria Troas. I do not think the name Antigoneia
has yet occurred upon coins. Sestini gives, in his Classes
Generales, a coin from the Bavarian collection
" Full-faced head of Apollo. To left, AN in monogram.
R Horseman with spear. AT 2 A below."
1 would, however, suggest the restoration of this coin to
Colophon (?) The coin in the Danish cabinet, published
by Ramus, has been restored by Borrell to Cebrenia
Troadis.
Annaea, Anaea. Although this is a digression from the
strict object of the paper, I may take the opportunity of
making a numismatic rectification with reference to this
town. In the sale Catalogue of the Rollin collection, 1849,
p. 85, is the following description:
"Ansea, or Aenea (Caria). IEPA CTNKAHTOC. Fe-
male bust to left.
R - &IANOT APX. ANAIftN, etc. Samian
Juno. Probably unique.
(See Stephanus, Thucydides, etc.)"
200* NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
From a coin which I possess, however, the true legend is,
HI. ATP. AUQIANOT APX. A MAIONfiN, the last
four letters being in field, two on each side of the head of
Juno. Thus Ancea Cariae must be expunged from the list
of numismatic towns.
Antiquaria. Although the coin referred to is not Spanish,
being, in fact, of Riganticus of Galatia, a name unknown to
Eckhel, still there is a coin which certainly, in my opinion
at least, belongs to Antikaria. See it engraved by Sestini,
Med. Isp., Tab. i. 17. The type and fabric are undoubt-
edly Spanish.
Aperlae. De Longperier says, that the French coin (which
s, I believe, still unique) really reads, AIlePAeiTflN,
not ATIGPAeiTfiN, thus agreeing with the inscription
of Cockerell.
Arisba. According to Borrell, the autonomous coins are
of Crithote, and the imperial very doubtful.
Armosata. -The coin of Aurelius with APMOCAIT-
THNfiN, should be read, EPMOC. CAITTHNfiN, and
classed to the Saetteni Lydiae (Sestini, Geographia Erro-
nea, p. 88).
Astapa. Although the authenticity of the Latin coin is
very doubtful, there can be no doubt of the correctness of
De Saulcy's attribution to this city of the very numerous
coins reading, ASTPE.
Asturica. The first coin, COL. AST. AVGVSTA, must,
I think, have been a retouched coin of CAESAR AVGVSTA.
The second is in the " Thesaurus " of Goltzius, but without
AMAKVR.
Astyra. The coins are of Astyra Rhodi. An imperial
coin once classed here is of Antandrus.
Barcino. The coin of Galba is Goltzian. There is, I
think, sufficient reason to regard as of Barcino the silver
NUMISMATIC RECTIFICATIONS. 207
coins classed by Sestini to Bersical (Sestini, p. 106 ; see
De Saulcy, Essai, p. 109 ; along with Gaillard, Catalogue
de la Torre, Madrid, 1852, p. 40).
Beseda- The coins referred to (Sestini, p. 183) bear the
name Bedesa, according to Sestini's decipherment. De
Saulcy, however (Essai, legend 95), gives a more correct
copy of the legend, which records an alliance of the Anenses
or Onenses, ANEKeSKeN the Ilergetes, ILERkesken and
the Bracaritani, BRaKaR.
Blaundus. The question as to the existence of Clanudda
has been for some time determined in the affirmative, since
Mr. Borrell published one specimen (now, I believe, in the
British Museum), while M. De Longperier published ano-
ther of different type from the French cabinet. Borrell
reads, KAANNOTAEflN ; De Longperier, KAAN-
NOTAAEflN, which is probably the correct reading.
Bosporus Cimmerius- Long ago it was decided by
Mionnet, that Gepaepyris was the wife of Mithridates. The
coin in the Theupoli Museum, now in the imperial collection
at Vienna, which had been published as of Gepaepyris and
Sauromates, really bore the name Mithridates. M. de
Stempkowsky had previously asserted this fact from coins
in his collection, whose authenticity was, however, denied
by some antiquaries (see Mionnet, Supp. vol. iv. Dumersan
Catal. Allier, p. 66).
There is abundant evidence, I think, from coins to justify
the succession of a second Sauromates directly after the
first; thus making the contemporary of Trajan, Sauro-
mates III. For Ininthemerus, read Ininthemevus, as found
on coins. For Rhadameadis or Rhadampsis, read Rha-
damsades. There is sufficient numismatic evidence for
considering the Rhescuporis contemporary with Constan-
tine as the VHI.th, not the V.th. De Chaudoir (Corrections
208 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
et Additions, p. 73) even gives some reasons for considering
him as Rhescuporis IX. See his Supplement also.
It may seem that several of these slips are hardly worth
correcting ; but in a book which, both from its own excel-
lence, and from the well-earned reputation of its authors,
will be a standard authority, even such, in a great measure
technical, blunders should be rectified, so as, if possible, to
avoid the dissemination of error.
W. H. SCOTT.
XX.
ON THE DATE OF THE BRITISH COINS INSCRIBED
" DUBNOVELLAUNOS," AND ON THE LEGEND
"TASCIOVANI. F."
IT is proposed, under this head and title, to offer a brief
comment on the "Observations on the Legends of Ancient
British Coins/' which have appeared in No. LVIII. of the
Numismatic Chronicle viewing them as assuming a new
system of interpretation, which appears not to be sufficiently
guarded from error. It is hardly necessary to say, that in
the remarks which follow, no disparagement is intended to
the learning and talents of the writer of the Observations,
Edmund Oldfield, Esq., of the British Museum; who,
besides, appears to wish that the subject which he treats
should be further discussed (Numismatic Chronicle, p.
109).
The points assumed in the Observations, in many in-
stances ; are correct; in others are not: and the general
LEGENDS OF BRITISH COINS. 209
rules attempted to be maintained are attended with so
much latitude, and have so many exceptions, that they are
obviously inadequate for the establishment of a new theory,
as the writer proposes ; for, as before observed, it is a new
system or formula of interpretation which he would endea-
vour to set forth.
With the foregoing remarks it may be noticed, that the
topics discussed in the Observations are divisible into three
heads, as follows :
I. That the terminations OS and VS never occur in-
scribed together on the same Gaulish or British coin.
II. That the termination VS is a proof of the adoption of
Roman forms, and that no Celtic titles are used conjointly
with it ; and,
III. That the termination OS indicates a period anterior
to the Roman conquest (in Gaul), which was completed in
the year 51 before the Christian era.
Now it is well known, that every Greek, even down to
the thirteenth century, would have written, as a matter of
course, all Latin terminations in VS as OS and that, vice
versa, the Romans expressed the terminations OS of the
Greeks as VS whenever they met with them, as long as
their language continued vernacular. Also it is well known
that the Gauls were, as it were, a people placed between
the Greeks and Romans as to their language. They at
first Grecised their terminations and inflexions, afterwards
Latinised them on the Roman conquest ; also at both
periods used many terminations and names purely Celtic
on their coins.
Practically, the state of the case seems to have been this
they at first used Celtic terminations, and the Greek ter-
minations in OS down to an advanced period of Caesar's
campaigns in Gaul; when at length the chiefs who were
210 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
adherents to Rome began to express their names according
to the Latin mode ; and on the conquest of Gaul, fifty-one
years before the Christian era, the remaining chiefs seem
generally to have adopted the Roman form of the nomina-
tive. That is to say, the same chief who in the year 60 B.C.
would have terminated his name in OS, in the year 50
would have varied it to VS. REX also, instead of RIX, to
express the kingly title, seems to have become more usual.
There was, then, undoubtedly a period of change; but it
does not appear that the line of demarcation was so precise,
that this rule could be pronounced invariable. For instance
a Gaulish chieftain named Julios (see Duchalais, p. 14)
used a Greek termination after the time when he first passed
under Roman influence ; and Cisiambos Cattos, in subjec-
tion to Rome, used a jumble of Greek and Latin in his
legends, as given by Duchalais, Lelewel, and others, in
which we have the Latin word PVBLICOS accompanied
with his name in Greek ; the whole legend being
CISIAMBOS CATTOS VERCOBRETO SIMISSOS PVB-
LICOS LIXOVIO. Another Gaul uses the Celtic word
RIX in its Latin form of REX, together with the Greek
genitive DVRNOCOV (Duchalais, p. 113). Again, another
of that nation has the Celtic RIX with the Latin word
ED VIS, both expressed at the same time on his coin (see
De la Saussaye's " Monnaies des Eduens," pi. i. fig. 1).
These instances of mixtures of words we find on Gaulish
coins, and others might be pointed out. They evidently
show the jargon of Latin and Greek which was used at
this period by the Gauls, together with their own language
a circumstance important in the consideration of Celtic
types.
As to the cases on which the writer so much relies
.DVRNACOS AVSCRO, DVRNACVS DONNVS, ATISIOS
LEGENDS OF BRITISH COINS. 211
REMOS, ATCIVOS SANTONOS one or two observations
may be made connected with their form of occurrence.
1. When there is solely the name of a state or town on
one face of a Gaulish coin, and the name of a chief or ruler
on the other, the first, that is, the name of the state or
town is usually put adjectively, as is the case in the in-
stances just cited, i.e. Donnus the Durnak, or inhabitant of
Durnacum (that is, Tornacum see Akerman's " Coins of
Cities and Princes," p. 168, or Turnacum see Lelewel's
" Type Gaulois," p. 243) ; Arivos the Santon ; Atisios the
Remian (Lelewel, pp.236, 317), and so forth. Therefore
these cases present merely an analogy of grammar an
analogy which might be anticipated, as it would not be
supposed, under these circumstances, that obvious gram-
matical arrangement should be violated, and the names put
otherwise. Here is an actual grammatical concordance,
which would of course carry with it a correspondency of
terminations, whether they might be in OS or VS ; that is,
if both the words are made declinable. The writer of the
Observations says not one word on this fact, so explanatory
as relating to the topic of which he treats : it therefore may
be concluded that he was not aware of it.
2. Again, if we turn to Britain, there was by no means a
precise analogy in the political positions of the two coun-
tries during their coining periods. We do not find instances
that the Gauls were allowed their titles after the Roman
conquest, except those of Rex or Rix and Vercobretus,
which last occurs with a Latin termination; but during the
period in which the Britons had an inscribed coinage
that is, from B.C. 13 to A.D. 44 (and the Brigantes and the
Iceni indeed later) they were independent : titles, there-
fore, more prominently appear on their moneys than on the
later coins of Gaul. Further, as neither Cunobeline nor the
VOL. XV. F F
212 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
southern Belgse of Britain appear to have inserted the
names of their states on their coins adjectively, there was
not the same concordance of grammar to be observed, to
which attention has just been directed ; consequently their
states and towns were named on their coins in their Celtic
forms or Roman forms,, as it might happen ; and the same
may be remarked of their titular distinctions. In short,
they resemble in this particular such coins of Gaul as were
exceptions to the usual rule of that country, of inserting the
name of the state or town adjectively ; and some of these
exceptions have already been cited, such as the coin on
which the Latin form EDVIS occurs with the Celtic
ORCETORIX, or as the Greek DVRNOCOV is joined with
the Latin form DVBNOREX. Thus the British king Ep-
pillus might have had on the reverses of his coins, COM. F.
that is, Commios or Commius Firbolg, implying the con-
federacy of the Belgae, or that he was a ruler of that
confederacy ; and in like manner Cunobeline might have
had on the reverses of his coins, TASC. F. TASC, FIR., etc.
implying that he also was a ruler of another portion of the
Belgse of Britain. But here we need not say, might have,
as we know, from two specimens that are extant, that he
actually inscribed this legend, TASC. FIR. on some of his
types (see the Journal of the Arch. Assoc. for 1851, p. 26 ;
and the Numismatic Chronicle for 1852, p. 14).
Two points somewhat material to the present purpose
have thus been attended to. The first has been that of the
regularity in the terminations of certain Gaulish legends
noticed in the Observations in the Numismatic Chronicle,
which has been shown to arise from the grammatical con-
cordance of the substantive with its adjective. Likewise,
in contrast to this, it has been remarked that there is not
the coincidence of the same form of construction in the
LEGENDS OF BRITISH COINS. 213
legends of British coins, and consequently not the same
instances of grammatical concordance. The second point
has been the adverting to the expediency of due attention
being paid, in the consideration of this subject, to the differ-
ent relative position of affairs in Gaul and Britain during
their coining periods.
Regarding the other topic brought forward by the
writer of the Observations, it has been before admitted
that, generally speaking, the Greek termination OS was
anterior among the Celts to the Latinised termination VS,
though the Iceni of Britain, it may be judged from their
coins, rather retained the former; upon which subject,
however, it is not necessary to enter at this place. Cuno-
beline certainly used the Latin termination to his name, as
did Eppillus ; they both equally Romanised in this respect.
And here a remark or two may be necessary on the Greek
form of the name DVBNOVELLAVNOS on the coins of a
son of Cunobeline; which, indeed, are the more required,
from the views brought forward in the Observations which
are now discussed.
In Britain, then, it seems to have been Cunobeline's
attachment to Augustus, and not force, which induced him
to Romanise so much in the types of his coins, and in using
Latin terminations. He was brought up at the court of
Augustus, as is commonly supposed; and the principal
reguli of Britain of that period, it appears from the account
of Strabo, were united by close treaty with the Roman
power. But there is surely no necessity to infer from this,
that all national feeling was stifled in the island that the
Britons were only anxious to forget their country, and eager
to lay down the titles and distinctions so much prized by
the Celts (see M. A. Thierry's " Histoire des Gaulois," vol.
ii. p. 8 ; and vol. iii. p. 97), and to adopt Roman forms
214 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE
instead. He Romanised, it is true ; and so did the south-
ern Belgae of Britain ; but not so, in either case, that their
coinages should be merely viewed in the light of prolonga-
tions of the Roman imperial coinage of the day : and the
Iceni, another powerful state of Britain to whom we have
lately alluded, seem not to have Romanised at all.
Again, when Cunobeline was dead, and an entirely dif-
ferent aspect of affairs with Rome had ensued when now
the Britons were at variance with the imperial power, and
a large armament was fitted out to crush them, and bring
them into slavery and permanent subjection was it not
natural at this time, when the Britons had drawn their
swords, and prepared for an obstinate resistance, that their
former monetary approximation to Rome, such as it was,
should be discontinued? Was it not to be expected that
at this crisis their Latin terminations and inflexions, and
the Roman types they had adopted, should be laid aside,
and some other style of inscription selected? Monetary
testimony comes in here, to show that this actually took
place: we have the name of Cunobeline's son, DVBNO-
VELLAVNOS, in the Greek form at this period, and
legends of Caractacus, another son, in Greek characters,
and Greek types of the same prince (see Journal of the
Arch. Assoc. for 1850, p. 374). All this corresponds with
what takes place in like cases ancient and modern. If we
turn to the half century preceding the present time, we have
the fact that the Emperor of Russia checked the use of the
French language in his dominions during the concluding
contest with Napoleon ; and it is noticeable, that when war
is declared between two nations, the populace often destroys
the insignia of the adverse state. From these premises it
may safely be inferred, notwithstanding Latin terminations
had prevailed before, that the legend DVBNOVELLAVNOS
LEGENDS OP BRITISH COINS. 215
in the Greek form presents no inconsistency as viewed
with the then existing relations of the island with their for-
midable opponents, and is not contrary to any judicious
numismatic rule.
It is not here the place to enter upon the reasons for
assigning this type to Togodubnus, son of Ounobeline,
which has been done elsewhere; but a remark may be
made on the indications of date aiforded by the style of the
lettering. The letters, then, of these legends are in a some-
what full and rounded character, which suits far better with
the times of the Emperor Claudius, than those of Julius
Caesar. The types also have a palm-branch, which appears
to have been imitated from a coin of Cunobeline, who again
had adopted it from a type of his patron Augustus. In-
deed, should we place these coins of Dubnovellaunus nearly
a century earlier than the times of Claudius, it would seem
wholly unwarranted from their general appearance.
There is still another topic brought to notice in the
Observations on which the present comment is made
whether certain Gaulish coins which Latinise in their ter-
minations, afford any corroboration to the reading which
some have been inclined to give to certain legends of
Cunobeline, of TASCIOVANI F(ILIVS) ; and it may be
pronounced, without much hesitation, that they do not.
The coins in question are that inscribed GERMANVS
INDVTILLIL (Lelewel, p. 247), and those which, with
some uncertainty of the reading of the last word, bear the
legend of Q. DOCI. SAMI. (Duchalais, p. 235). Of these
two coins engravings are given in the Numismatic Chroni-
cle ; and Mr. Oldfield suggests, though he does not appear
positively to affirm it, that the first of these may possibly
have been intended to read, Germanus Indutilli F.; the
other, Q. Doci. Sam. F. notwithstanding his own
216 NUMISMATIC CHRONICLE.
engravings by no means seem obviously to support his
hypothesis.
The case being then left in some uncertainty even as in
his own hands, we have only to turn to the French writers,
and in their works we certainly find no countenance for the
opinion, or merely such as is extremely slight. The
reading of F is not in Mionnet, Eckhel, or Conbrouse ;
nor do we have it in the works of De la Saussaye or
Lagoy, or in Duchalais, Lambert, or Lelewel ; though,
indeed, in the instance of the legend GERMANVS INDV.
TILLIL it was suggested as an hypothesis by M. Johan-
neau some years since; but only as an hypothesis. Inquirers
in this country must be put in possession of much more
stringent proof than has yet been attempted, before they
can consider the numismatists of France wrong on a point
peculiarly relating to themselves. Nor must it be forgotten,
that there is a strong presumptive proof in favour of the
usually received orthography, INDVTILLIL, in the very
parallel reading of other Gaulish types which have
AMBILIL (see Lelewel, p. 247; and the Marquis de La-
goy's " Essai de Monographic," 4to. 1847, p. 18) ; to say
nothing of the legend EBVLTLIM on a Gaulish coin noted
by Mionnet and Conbrouse (see Lelewel, ubi supra}.
For a species of recapitulation of the whole, it may be
justifiable to remark, that the Observations which have
been here discussed have neither displaced any former
mode of interpretation, nor established any new explana-
tions : they have merely brought to our notice that the
Celts of Gaul were not insensible to the concordance of
the adjective with the substantive ; and that, very na-
turally, when the one ended in OS, they terminated the
other similarly, and, vice rend, the same with the ter-
mination VS. No one to whose notice the point was
LEGENDS OF BRITISH COINS. 217
brought cleared of its extraneous appendages, would have
doubted of this; but the said Observations do not show
that there was always the same regularity in all the words
which occur in the legends of Gaulish coins; and that there
are not instances of a medley of Latin and Greek on them.
That a Greek genitive does not occur with the assumed
Latin Rex, and again the more strictly Celtic form Rix,
with the Latin Eduis. It would appear useless, in the face
of these formulae, to attempt to set up any new rules of
interpretation; and having pointed out these facts, and
shown their application, no further remark seems required
on the subject.
In concluding, it may be perhaps right again to state,
that all due courtesy has been intended, in the foregoing
remarks, to Mr. Oldfield the object having been solely
the discussion of the principles of interpretation which he
has advanced.
BEALE POSTE.
218
MISCELLANEA.
SINCE the publication of the African Regal Coins, I have seen in
the British Museum another specimen of the Syphax coin (vol. xv.
pp. 88, 89), on which the first three letters are distinctly pan.
The pD are exactly as in the legend given by De Luynes; but
the first letter is the first form of D given by Gesenius in his first
plate, with the perpendicular shortened. I am unable to offer
any explanation of the legend. These letters are quite distinct
on the Museum coin, though the rest of the legend is not so.
Owing to the accidental miscarriage of a proof, I was pre-
cluded from correcting the list of unpublished coins (Vol. XIV.
p. 110). I have several errors, in consequence, to notice here,
which the reader will please correct.
The coin of Perinthus, p. 113, No. 2, has the O thus W.
The coin of Chersonesus is in silver, as are also those of Apol-
lonia and of Achaia, p. 114:. I have found a very similar coin to
that of Achaia published in the Mittheilungen der Numisnia-
tische Gesellschaft von Berlin, 1846 ; but with the monogram of
XAP, and classed to Charisia in Argolis, a place to which coins
in copper, with a w T olf, and the same monogram, are classed.
On my coin, a leaf of the garland has accidentally touched the
limb of the monogram, just where the loop of P should be ; so
that I cannot be certain. I think, however, that the classification
to Charisia is correct.
The coin of Sauromates II., or rather III.? reads BACIA800C.
The reverse is as usual, MH in a garland. It is very possible
that the coin I have classed to Sauromates V. may be even later.
The issue of autonomous coins continued certainly to Rhescuporis
VII., perhaps later.
The coin of Pergamus, No. 2, reads, nGPrAMHNON.
The coin of Perga has CAAQNGINA, and is &. 9 J.
The coin of Gordus Julia, No. 1, has Fortune standirg in a
countermark on obverse.
The coin of Attsea . . . AGITON, might belong to Synaos,
CVNAGITiiN. In the Wellenheim Catalogue, p. 228, No. 5197,
is a coin
M. AVP. KOMMOAOC. KAI . . . Tete nue a dr. avec le
paludamentum ; devant, la tete d'Hercule en contre-
marque.
R . . . CTP. M. POYd> IltoN. L'empereur en
pacificateur a dr. ; devant, arbre ; autour duquel est un
serpent ; dans le champ, TO B JE. 8.
marked as unpublished. This coin offers a great analogy to that
described by me. I do not think it belongs to Elsea in Aeolis,
which is the attribution in the Wellenheim Catalogue.
W. H. S.
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