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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mdthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 F ,t I tnmm ■; i i n!i| i|» w iiiwiiii i" i'' ^ -7 ~~ ■■<%|ii?i'|i''»«''fViiinaBa' ^ ^a/fc/'^ a *a i i ■, ..OTES ON COINS: READ BEFORE THE ttwIisiittEtic S^nit OF MONTREAL, BY STANLEY C. BAGG, ESQ., F.N.8., VICE PRESIDENT; BEING THE FIR8T PAPER READ BEFORE TT'IS BCOIETY. MONTREAL : H. k D. ROSE, 274 NOTRE DAME STREET, 13rintev0 to tfje Numismatie ^ocitts. 1863. ^»ii»» » <>>f^f»»>»»» f >i>>ff»<>f » f^i ■T^" .:. ,|ti W !ir ( |il i> | jl| |BHI ! 6 I W I II | W l l i i iii lnVwri i rtrr . mv cy ^^ - ,)!••■•'■' '#*' ■'- . >mt. ^•^ j^^^M^** " *' " ** " i^. -rfiitf'."- ./. NOTES ON COINS: READ BEFORE THX OF MONTREAL, BY STANLEY C. BAGG, ESQ., F.N.8., VICE PRESIDENT; BEING THE FIRST PAPER READ ItKFORE TUIK SOCIETY. •.* » > * 4 * I . • MONTREAL: H. & D. ROSE, 274 NOTRE DAME «TRKKT, iPrinteiB to tf)t Numigmatir Socirtjrj. 1863. ii'«a' ,*•'*«'-" •,*^*»)t^llMI^«l*^ f r NOTES ON COINS. In order that this first literary production present- ed to the Numismatic Society of Montreal may possess greater merit, and prove more interesting and instructive, I have taken such extracts from various writers as I hope may tend to create a de- sire in at least a few of my friends to pursue the study of Numismatics. Such being the case, should you discover in this paper any remarks you may before have seen, I trust you will be generous enough to admit the above as a sufficient apology and not accuse me of plagiarism. The science of Numismatics has a claim on all intelligent persons that no other subject of study can surpass. In Coins and Medals, more than in any other monuments, the past is preserved and its heroes and great events are kept memorable, forms of worship, manners and customs of nations; titles of kings and emperors may thus be determined ; — in fact, coins have been frequently of the greatest service, by illustrating doubtful points of history. 51519 i I and even by bringim: to lighi circiimstaiiajs aiul events unknown to us before. Without the help of* medals and infcKjriptions we should be ignorant of a fact exceeding honorable to tin* memory of Antoninus Piuy. Possibly it was to the almost imperishable nature of the splendid medals of the Augustan age that Horace alluded, wlien he spoke of a fame more enihiring than br'i.**s. Then, as now, the record of coins and medals were r«^garded as most lasting ; and it may be safely affirmed? that we owe as much of our liistorical knowledge of the remote past to the coins of nations long since passed away, as we owe to their written chronicles on paper or parchment. Coins lirst consisted of rude lumps of metal, and were a.fterwards stamped on one side only with simple devices, such as a pomegranate or bird, hel- met or flower. The device was afterwards improv- ed into a head, generally of tlie patron divinity of the country or town where the money was coined ; and at a subsequent period the clumsy mark of the hammer, visible on the earliest specimens, was ex- changed for some emblem or device, thus giving to each sida of the coin a similar decoration. Por- traiture of rulers was not introduced on coins be- fore the reign of Alexander the Great, and he was lirst represented as the god Jupiter Amnion, iu, f I K ttmtm ^ u I I II i ,11 MIfcMoMN-MMMMMita which character he appears on a coin struck by Lysimnchus. A Grecian Drachma, coined in the days of Alexaiuler tlie Groat, was picked up in th« streets of the onco buried Pompeii. It has on One Mq the head of Alexander ; on the reverse, a figure of Jupiter sitting in a chair, holding a hasta pura (spear of favor i in his left hand, and an im- perial eagle in the right, — -the inscription is Alex- ander. During the age of Phidias and Praxiteles, the most flourishing period of Greek art, some of the most beautiful btatues of divinities were copied on coins, and occasionally groups of figures were added, so that by this means we can belioJd tran- scripts of many celebrated works which perished ages ago. This custom also prevailed in the time of the ]{oman emperors. Coins may fairly be called sculpture in miniature ; and it is by their means that the famous Venus of Cni(?os. the Pala- tine Apollo, and the Colossus of Khodes, are still preserved, although history too clearly narrates the exact circumstances of their d'^struction. Various family types occur in Ivoman Consular Coins, which commemorate some remarkable events con- nected wdth tho consulships of certain individuals. As historical records, therefore, these coins are peculiarly interesting. The coins of the .^milian family sn I >ply striking examples of types of this I II hill* class. Thus, M. Lopidus has a ilenariuH, upon wliich ho nppoars placiiii^ a crown upon the licail of the youtlif'ul Kinc;, Ptolemy Epiphancs, with the legend TVTOR KKGTS. Another denarius of tlic same family represents Arotns, King of Ara- bia, submitting ])imselfto M. Scaurus, under the symbol of a figure kneeling by a caniol and pre- senting an olive-branch, from which depends a diadem. And a third of these coins records the youthful exploit of M. Lepidus, who appears mount- ed and with a trophy ; the accompanying legend being M. LEPIDVS. AN. XV. PR. 11. 0. C. S. — (Anno XV. pnetextatus. hostem. occidit. ci- vem. servavit.) Similar types and legends were continued in the imperial series, to which portraits were added. The imperial types also exhibit tri- umphs and consular processions, the Emperors continuing to retain the ancient consular rank and autliority. Allusions to the consulships and con- sulships-elect of the emperors are frequent in the legends of the imperial coins; the compound titles which the emperors were pleased to assume, with their names, are also in this same uianner recorded. It will be borne in remembrance that the title IMP. (Imperator) was not prefixed to the imperial name until, in later times, the Homans had be- come so familiarized with sovereignly that they y •I .^, \ %) no longer hcsitat/cd publicly to recognise and re- cord the fact. At a late period of the empire, the place of mintage was generally denoted upon th® Roman coins by letters struck upon the exergue, or space below the line upon v/hich, in the reverse of any coin, figures are placed. The first Brass, the largest of the copper coinr, called by the Ro- mp* s from the Augustan age NVMM VS,— hence the term Numismatics, — forms the most interest- ing series, not only on account of size, but also for beauty and historical interest. At the era of the Aptonines it decreased in size and degenerated in both the interest of the types and tiio quality of the execution, and under Gallicnus it finally dis- appeared. Under the title of Roman Medallions are in- chided all those productions of the Roman mint which exceed the current coin in size and weitrht. These medallions were struck, both at Rome and in the Provinces of the empire, on various occa- sions, generally for the purpose of commemorating some event of historical interetit, and occasionally for ordinary currency'. Before Hadrian, Roman medallions are very rare, but subsequently they arc of more frequent occurrence. The medallions struck by the Senate bear the letters S. C. (Sena- tiis Oonsulto). The following Emperors comnie- 8 moral ed their conquests in Britain on certain ol their coins: — Cladius, Hadrian, Anto.iinus Pius^ Commodus, Severus, Caracella, and Geta. A few years since a number oi' small brass coins, evidently from a Koman Mint, were dug out at Canwick, at a depth of eighteen inches from the surfaee. The majority are in a high state of preservation, especi- ally some of the time of Constatine the Great, com- monly known as the first Christian Emperor. A small brass coin is comparatively little impaired by the immense lapse of years it must have laia in the ground. The obverse, which is .^harp, clear, and distinct, has upon it the lielmeted head of the Emperor, and bears the inscription COIN STAN-. TINV6 AVG. (Constantinus Augustus.) The reverse is lesp distinct ; but upon it may be traced two winged figures, apparently in an act of ovation, and an inscriptioii which, though partially crashed. in all probability was VICTORIiK BEIT* TANIC^^. Though the statues of maibic, the arches of triumph, the gorgeous palaces reared by the Monarchs of the Empire of Home, have been razed to the ground and have crumbled into dust, these, in themselves, paltry coins remain numu- ments of the might of the age they represent, and record, fresh as the day they were coined, sucli great historical facts in their inscriptions as Vie toriae Brittanica? aad Judse Capta>. 1 ri on certain ol \nto.iinus Pius, id Geta. A few 3 coins, evidently t at Can wick, at le surlaee. The servation, especi- 3 the Great, corn- n Emperor. A ittle impaired by ust have hiia in is ^-harp, clear, leted head of the ion COJNSTAN. .ugustus.) The it may be traced an act of ovation, partially eras-^ed. :)11L^1 BRIT* s of marble, the al.-ioes reared bv ome, have been iiibled into dust, •i remain monu- >y represent, and ere coined, such !riplions as Vie ■jfM I ■!■ KHIl 9 The following musings in the cabinet of the United States^ mint, will give you an idea of what trains of thought the view of an ancient coin may be suggestive: — '^ At a small case near the entrance, which con" tains, among other curiosities, the ancient Jewish coins, the stranger has hi,s curiosity awakened hj observing the earnest and eager, but suppressed inquiries of some, and the contemplative sadness of others, whilst directing their attention to the very ancient looking and diminutive object labelled ' The Widow's Mite; '^ It is the smallest of copper coins, its metallic value being scarcely one-tenth of our cent^ yet, from the associations and reflections to which its name gives rise, as well as from its rareness, it is valued beyond price ; or, to use the words of the official in attendance, ' No money would hviy it.' ^' The printed slip attached, which gives its name, Htates that it was found in the ruins of Jerusalem, but does not inform us wliether there were any other specimens of the coin extant, or whether this is the only remaining evidence <>l the existence of a description of money, two pieces of which once constituted the whole wealth of a pious but desti- tute daughter of Israel. *' Whilst viewing this precious relic, the mind JllriJI ■■ ./' ;* m 10 readily but insensibly adverts to the period and circumstance where alone its existence is recorded, and from which our impressions concerning it are drawn. We forget, for the time, that we are in a modern temple containing more of the products of a new Ophir than the edifice which the wise, yet foolish, King of Israel erected, could exhibit of gold and silver treasures. '' The mite before us, serves to transport us at once to the Holy City, and introduce us into the temple dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. It carries us back in chronology more than eighteen hundred years, and places us amongst a people to whom our hemisphere, which now conduces so largely to the weal or woe of myriads of mankind, was utterly unknown. We see around us, in ima- gination, multitudes who have come up to the temple to oifer sacrifices, and to make intercession for forgiveness of their sins ; or to return thanks for beinir better and holier than other men. " Among them, seated ' over against the trea- sury,' we behold the great Teacher, observant of those who entered the sacred edifice, ostensibly to worship, but, too frequently, only to ' have honor of men,' from the amount of their alms gifts, as well as the length and frequency of their prayers. " As their several contributions to the treasury .1 J temmm- I ■ ■ 1!.^-. 11 •H^ i «« «4 are deposited, we hear him say to his disciples, when ' there came a poor widow and she threw in two mites, which make a fartliing,' ' this poor widow hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury, for all they did cast in of their abundance, but she of her want, did cast in all that she had, even all her living ' '^ His life is thus brought into review before us, surrounded by his disciples, listening with surprise to his words of wisdom and instruction, or ques- tioning him as to the meaning of his parables, and inquiring ivhen his predictions are to be fulfilled. We observe the sternness with which he rebukes the bigotry, hypocrisy and intolerance of the Scribes and Pharisees— the priest and the Levite; or the unbelief, venality and crimes of the Saddu- cees. But with what mildness does he address the poor, the lowly and the sorrow sticken ! How forgivingly does he remind them of their sins, supply their wants, heal their diseases, and relieve their sufferings ; making his gospel, indeed, ' glad tidings to the poor!' '' We see the temple, too, in all its grandeur — its extensive courts and colonnaded porticoes — its gil- ded portals and gorgeous adorements — its ' goodly stones,' not one of which was to be left standinir upon another. } 12 " We see the throng of worshippers departing, tifter having made their sacrificial offerings and paid their vows, or delivered up their accustomed amount of prayer. Among all these, none intrest us so much, nor excite our sympathies so stiongly, as the ' poor widow. ' We are anxious to pene" trate into her history. How long has she been a widow, and by what circumstance did she become so ? Is she still in the Spring-time of lifo, like Ruth ; or has she, like Naomi, ' no longer any hope ? ' Have length of days and many sorrows made her weary of the world and anxious to ' flee away and be at rest ?' How came she to be so poor that her whole wealth consisted of the pittance with which she had just parted ; and how will she sustain life in the future ? " In answer to the latter suggestion, we can only surmise that she has heard from the irreat Master the injunction, ' Take no heed for the morrow,' and has entire faith that he who provides the young ravens with food, and does not suffer a sparrow to fall unnoticed, will not let her want. We admire such reliance upon the Eternal Provi- dence, and her gift is magnified in our estimation thereby, beyond any which kings or potentates e'er "live. We are anxious to trace her course there- after. Did she have a home to return to, and kind «i \ »» 18 friends to welcome her, or was she witliout shelter or refuge — alone in the world ? Perhaps her life is devoted to the exercise of pious duties, until death shall afford a prospect of deliverance fron her sorrows ; but, of all these inquires each must re- main unanswered, for none remains to tell us aught concering her. '' It were vain to look for her retiring figure m tho market place, or in the marts of trade, where Jews and Gentiles congregate to traffic and to bar- ter, that they may cunningly convert their shekels into talents, and be ' clothed in purple and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day.' '' Nor yet need we search for her where learned rabbis are expounding the law, and the traditions, of the fathers, or unravelling the mysteries of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Daniel, a id debating the propriety of paying tribute to Caesar. She has vanished forever, but of her existence we have full assurance, since the gospel asserts the fact, and this silent witness, the mite, corroborates it." • > « t .^