Tête radiée du Soleil, de face.

AR

60000

R. PO. Initiales du mot POAION. Une rose, type parlant de la ville. A gauche, un épi. A droite, une palme. Argent.

Telles sont les principales pièces de cette petite collection grecque. J'ai regretté de ne pas y voir figurer, au même point de vue artistique, quelques autres beaux types que j'ai souvent admirés au Cabinet des Médailles de la Bibliothèque nationale; par exemple, la tête du Zeus, de Phidias, sur une monnaie d'argent de l'Elide, des pièces de Clazomène et d'Amphipolis avec des tètes de face, une de Delphes, avec Apollon au revers, et quelques autres.

On a souvent considéré la numismatique comme une science austère et rebutante. On voit, par l'examen qui précède, que les monnaies antiques ne sont pas toujours de vieilles pièces rouillées et indéchiffrables, mais que les Dieux et les héros, les Muses et les Grâces y sont parés de tout l'éclat de la divinité et embellis du charme de l'art. Ce sont, en outre, de précieux témoins de l'histoire et de la poésie des temps passés.

Dans toutes les grandes collections, les monnaies grecques sont classées par ordre géographique et, dans chaque région, les villes par ordre alphabétique, comme dans le relevé ci-après. J'y ai indiqué seulement les villes principales, car la numismatique en présente un nombre considérable. La Grèce a, en effet, rayonné dans le monde entier bien au delà de ses frontières, et ce relevé donne une idée de l'étendue qu'embrasserait une collection complète des monnaies de cette époque. C'est pour ce motif que beaucoup d'amateurs se bornent à rechercher les pièces d'une seule région; d'autres, plus pressés ou plus éclectiques, notre compatriote est du nombre, préfèrent réunir un choix de beaux types de toutes les provenances.

Provinces.

Charles FARCINET, O, Membre correspondant de la Société des Antiquaires de France.

EUROPA

Villes, iles, rois.

Rois

Iles

CHERSONESUS TAURICUS

SARMATIA..

MOESIA SUPERIOR.

MOESIA INFERIOR.

THRACIA....

CHERSONESUS THRACIE.

Rois

Iles

ILLYRICUM.

PEONIA. MACEDONIA.

THESSALIA. EPIRUS

ACARNANIA.. ETOLIA. LOCRIS. PHOCIS..

BOOTIA.

ATTICA.

PELOPONESUS.

ELIS

MESSENIA.
LACONIA..
ARGOLIS.
ARCADIA

CRETA INSULA.
EGEA INSULE.

Provinces.

BOSPHORUS CIMMERIUS
COLCHI..
PONTUS

PAPHLAGONIA BITHYNIA...

Istrus, Marcianopolis, Nicopolis, Tomi.

Abdera, Enus, Byzantium, Maronea.

Ægos Potamos, Cardia, Coela, Philippopolis.

Seuthès, Lysimachus, Rhemetalces, etc.

Imbros, Samothrace, Thasus.

Apollonia, Dyrrachium.

Rois Lycceius, Patraus, Audoleon.

Acanthus, Amphipolis, Chalcidis, Leté, Neapolis, Pella, Philippi, Pydna, Thessalonica, Bisaltæ. Rois Alexander I, Perdiccas II, Archelaus I, Amyntas III, Philippus II, Alexander Magnus, Philippus III, Cassander, Lysimachus, Demetrius I, Antigonus I et II, Philippus V, Perseus.

Chalcedon, Cius, Heraclea (Rois: Timotheus,
Dionysius).

Rois de Bithynie: Nicomèdes I, II, III; Prusias I, II.

Cyzicus, Lampsachus, Pergamus. (Rois : Philetai

rus, Attalus, I, II.)

Abydus, Alexandria Troas, Ilium, Scepsis.
Tenedus.

Cyme, Myrrhina, Temnus.

Lesbus (Methymna, Mitylène).

Clazomena, Colophon, Ephesus, Erythræ, Magne

sia, Miletus, Smyrnus.

Iles Chios, Samos.

Cnidus, Halicarnassus, Stratoniceæ.

Calymna, Camirus, Cos, Lindus.

Hecatomnus, Maussolus, Hidrieus, Pixodarus.

Cragus, Myra Patara, Phaselis, etc.

AN UNPUBLISHED ENGLISH COPPER COIN.

The second Edition of Montagu's English Copper Coins, recently issued, is a work so carefully prepared by its Author, and subjected to so much independent check and criticism, that I was quite unprepared to be shown, the other day, a copper coin of apparently unpublished type, which would probably take its place as the earliest Coin in the Book. It is no less than a Regal English Copper Halfpenny of Elizabeth. The piece is now in my possession; and may be briefly described as follows:

BREC

Obv. Crowned bust of the Queen to the left, not exactly similar to any known die, but more nearly resembling the portrait on the hammered half-sovereign an inner circle. ELIZAB·D GANG. FRA ET HIB REG. mm. a mullet.

R. Plain Shield with the Royal Arms crowned: an inner circle. A HALFPENY PECE followed by a peculiar ornamental scroll, thus: 2 mm. a mullet.

The coin weighs 10 grains, and is in good preservation. It is, unfortunately, slightly chipped, and exhibits on the obv. a trace of having been once bent, and since straightened; but these defects interfere very little with the general appearance and shape of the piece, which may fairly be described as unique.

There can be no reason, so far as I am aware, why Elizabeth should not have struck Regal Copper Money for England as well as

for Ireland, of which latter Country Pennies and Halfpennies exist; and there is little doubt that Numismatists will be satisfied that this piece is, if genuine, a trial or current English Halfpenny. The large number of new denominations of Coin struck during this reign goes far towards confirming this inference, coupled with the occasional discovery in modern times, of hitherto unknown types, as, for instance, the Half George Noble of Henry VIII, until recently not known to exist. Moreover the whole style and appearance of the coin are such as to warrant the belief that it is contemporaneous with the reign of Elizabeth.

In conclusion, I shall be pleased to submit it for examination and remarks to any one interested in what I am induced to believe will be proved to be a genuine addition to the published series of the Copper Coins of this Country.

Now that this ancient Fraternity has become a thing of the past and public attention has been drawn to the subject of the Fellowship Porters, their grievances and their dissensions, it may not be considered out of place to give to our readers--most of whom it may be presumed are interested in all that pertains to numismatic or medallic art an illustration of one of their old silver-plated badges, solid, plain and unmistakable as it is, and a badge doubtless which at once showed the wearer to be a person entitled to the many privileges of his Order. That these badges were in use and worn by the porters for many years into the present century is attested by the fact that the writer's mother vividly recollects the porters employed by her father wearing badges of similar form to the one here depicted.

According to authorities on the subject this ancient fraternity dates from the year 1646 (temp. Charles I) as a Trade Union, though as a company of men entitled to special privileges they would seem to have had existence for some 200 years prior even to the date above mentioned.

"The

There were many sections of Fellowship Porters such as "The corn and Salt Porters", "The Tackle House Porters", Orange or Chest Gang", "The Supernumerary Gang", the "Rulers", besides other sub-divisions, and it is hardly to be wondered at that these varied conflicting interests clashed from time to time and have very largely contributed to the recent break-up and demolition of the Order, which had been a decaying one for some years.

The many privileges the Porters enjoyed, amongst which may be enumerated the right (until the dock companies stepped in) of levying toll on every vessel which entered the port of London, that is, a right of measuring ("Corn metage") the grain in the ships holds, of carrying it ashore, also of the carrying of fruit and numberless other goods, naturally brought large renumeration. The corporation was a close one and one twelfth of the men's earnings had to be paid to the company, resulting at one time to no less a

sum than £ 80.000 in one year. These particulars have been gleaned from the daily papers, but perhaps a more reliable account of this ancient Fraternity can be obtained from Mr. W. Carew Hazlitt's excellent work on The Livery Companies of the City of London (Swan Sonnenschein & Co). Mr. Hazlitt does not consider this body ever to have been chartered or incorporated, but that they had existence as a Fraternity many centuries ago is evidenced by the fact that the City Regulations of the year 1350 laid down their tariff and otherwise adjusted their charges as porters. The Common Council, also, from time to time, by its Acts, regulated their affairs. Mr. Hazlitt incidentally mentions that the Porters possessed no arms but used those of the City of London, whence their authority was derived this it will be observed is the case upon the Badge we have illustrated. In conclusion it may be mentioned that although the subject of this notice can hardly be allowed a place in Numismatics yet the Badge undoubtedly deserves recognition, and along with it this short account of the now extinct Fellowship Porters of the City of London seems to be necessary.

For the loan of this Badge we are indebted to the kindness of Alex. Durlacher Esq.

A RARE IRISH VOLUNTEER MEDAL

This rare Irish medal was recently exhibited by the Vice President of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, and, being of considerable interest, is illustrated here, together with Mr. Day's remarks by his and Mr Cochrane's kind permission.

The Society again met [Tuesday, July 25th, 1893] in the Lecture Theatre of the Crawford Municipal School of Science and Art at 8 o'clock, p. m., ROBERT DAY, F.S.A., M.R.I.A., High Sheriff of Cork, Vice-President, in the Chair.

The Chairman exhibited a Medal and Buttons of the Irish Volunteers, with the following description: I have already in the pages of our Journal described some Medals of the Volunteers. I have now the renewed pleasure of illustrating another which is of more than ordinary interest. It is of engraved silver work, oval in form, and is two inches in length, by one and a-half inches wide. Obverse upon a garter divided in the centre at each side by a star " Ballymascanlon Rangers," and within the garter, the harp crowned with smaller garters above and below the arms, having the Liberty ""or Death," and the

motto

figures

"222.

bayonets with which the men are armed three masonic groupings. In the centre the square and compass enclosing the letter G. At its left the hour-glass resting on a book; and on the right the level, rule, and mallet. It is more than probable that the "222" is the number of Thompson's Masonic Lodge. The medal has its original scarlet ribbon, clasp, and suspender, and is of peculiar interest, illustrating the character of the uniforms worn by this Co. Louth Regiment. Mr. F. E. Crossle of Newry has identified many of the masonic lodges in Ireland with the Volunteers of " '82", and this medal of Thompson's, while primarily a decoration of the Rangers, is also an enduring record that either a lodge of Freemasons was in the regiment, or else that the Rangers themselves constituted a masonic lodge and a masonic company of Volunteers 1.

M'Nevin laments the difficulty that he experienced in ascertaining the colours of the various volunteer uniforms, and is unable to describe that worn by the Ballymascanlon Rangers 2, the commanding officer of which was Captain R. M'Neale.

To further illustrate this subject I have brought two buttons of the Cork Artillery Volunteers, whose uniform was blue faced scarlet lace, and wh se commander was Captain Richard Hare, junior. The buttons are circular and one and a-half inches in diameter in a copper frame, glazed, and beneath the convex glass, painted on the flat, and in the background two towers, probably the King's and "Queen's " Castles, and in the foreground, behind a piece of ordnance, three soldiers with firearms standing at attention, and in the uniform and colours of this old Cork Corps. Such buttons could not have been worn by the rank and file of this regiment but would probably have been used by the commissioned officers on special

occasions.

NEW BOOKS AND CATALOGUES, etc.

Preis-Liste Verkäuflicher Münzen des Alterthums, des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit, Medaillen und Papiergeld. Dr Franz Walla, Wien.

Catalogue de médailles de personnes illustres, médailles originales de Louis XIV et de Louis XV, &c. J. Schulman, Amersfoort.

Monnaies antiques et françaises. Vente publique du 4 Novembre 1893. R. Serrure & Cie. Paris.

Médailles grecques, romaines et autres. Vente publique du 15 Novembre 1893. J. Florange, Paris.

Verzeichnis der Münzen und Medaillen der Sammlungen des † Herrn Subrektors Laible in Nördlingen, &c. A.-E. Cahn, Frankfurt a/M., 1893.

5e catalogue mensuel du cabinet de numismatique. Paris, Septembre 1893. Numismatisches Offerten Blatt von Edmund Rappaport. Berlin, October u. November 1893.

History of Currency in the British Colonies, by Robert Chalmers B. A. Eyre and Spottiswode. London, 1893, 496 pp. Price 10.

REVIEWS

Reverse. Upon the corresponding garters, "We Struggle for Liberty," and "The Volunteers of Ireland." In the centre of the field are nine of the volunteers, grouped as three Light Infantry, three men of the Line, and three Grenadiers: beneath their feet the owner's name "Jno. Thompson," and above the points of the

1. Journal, vol. i., Fifth Series (1891), pp. 459, 591.

Tijdschrift van het Nederlandsch Genootschap voor Munt-en Penningkunde, 4e Aflevering, 1893.

Vte B. de Jonghe, Les monnaies de Philippe II, frappées à Maestricht, en 1580 et après, à propos d'un sol, patard ou trentième de daelder forgé, en 1580, dans cet atelier monétaire.-J.-H. Coronel, Vondst van zilveren munten te Grave, in April 1893. Alphonse de Witte, Les monnaies frappées à Malines pour la Gueldre (1492-1494). -J.-C. ter Gouw, Muntvondst bij Maarsen. Edouard van den Broeck, Une rectification à Gérard van Loon. Th.-M. Roest, A. A. Looijen. In memoriam.

Varia.

Berliner Münzblatter, August 1893.

J. Menadier, Der Brakteatenstempel von Haverbjerg. Zwei Pfennige der Grafen von Veltheim-Osterburg. Litteratur.

Annuaire de la Société française de numismatique, septembreoctobre 1893.

R. Serrure, Essai de numismatique luxembourgeoise (suite). - Comte de Castellane, Le double d'or au nom de Charles VI, d'après les documents officiels. - Roger Vallentin, Des produits de la charge des Prévots généraux de la monnaie d'Avignon. C. Caron, Répertoire des principales trouvailles intéressant la numismatique française enfouies sous le règne des quatre premiers Capétiens.

Rivista italiana di numismatica, Fasc. III, 1893.

-

VARIA

(Continuazione). G. Castellani, Il ducato d'oro aconitano nel secolo XIV. A.-G. Sambon, Monete d'oro coniate da Carlo I d'Angiò a Tunisi. A. Puschi, Il ripostiglio di Monfalcone. E. Motta, Documenti visconteo-sforzeschi per la storia di Milano (Continuazione). Parti 11: Periodo Sforzesco. — C. Luppi, Vite di illustri numism. ital.: Domenico Casimiro Promis (Ritratto). —- Cronaca. Necrologia. - Alois Heiss. Bibliografia. — N. Papadopoli, Le Monete di Venezia descritte ed illustrate coi disegni di Carlo Kunz (Alberto Puschi). —Notizie varie. Ancora del Ripostiglio di Cesena.. Guida Numismatica (III ed.). — La coniazione del bronzo per l'Italia. Reale Società Numismatica Belga. · Società Numismatica Svizzera. Atti della Società Numis

matica italiana.

NUMISMATIC SOCIETIES, &c.

NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. - Oct. 19.-Sir J. Evans K. C. B., President, in the chair. Mr. Montagu exhibited a gold crown and half-crown of Edward VI., bearing the mint-mark Y., of Sir J. Yorke's mint at Southwark; also a large silver coin of Hieronymus of Syracuse, rev. Fulmen, together with a skilfully executed modern cast from the same specimen. Mr. Lawrence exhibited six base half-sterlings of Edward II. or III., five of which were from the same dies, and bore the name of the London mint. Dr. F. P. Weber exhibited some casts of coins of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, as King of the Romans, A.D. 1257-1271, issued at Aix-la-Chapelle and Dortmund. The originals are in the Royal Collection at Berlin. - Sir H. Howorth read a paper on the earliest gold coins (trientes) assigned to the Anglo-Saxons, of which there are several specimens in the British Museum and others in the possession of Mr. Lefroy. The writer expressed a strong opinion that these gold pieces were much earlier than has been hitherto supposed, and that they belong to the pre-Saxon period following the Roman evacuation of Britain, and in point of fact that they were not struck by the English, but by the Romano-British bishops of London, Winchester, &c. Among the legible specimens are one reading LONDONIA (Mr. Lefroy) and others reading WYNEETTON (?), possibly Winchester (Brit. Mus.). - Sir H. Howorth's views in regard to the early date of these coins were combated by Mr. Montagu and Mr. Grueber. Sir J. Evans read a paper on a penny of King Athelstan, having on the reverse the name of a new mint, "Weardbyrig," which he was inclined to identify with Wardborough, in Oxfordshire. - Dr. F. P. Weber read extracts from a paper on metallic plaques and medals of famous Englishmen by foreign artists, and exhibited specimens, some of which showed considerable skill in casting, though only a few of them were satisfactory as portrait medals.

FINDS

"Atheneum"

Treasure trove of the 16 October 1893. An Urn full
of valuable Coins.

While one of the ploughmen recently employed by Mr. Towns, Kinghornie, was working in a field known as the Chapel field, near Bervie, he uncovered an earthenware pot or urn containing a great number of silver coins-about 500-in splendid preservation, the bulk of them consisting of Edward II., and probably some of Edward III., the remainder being those of Alexander III. of Scotland. The various coins of Edward were struck in London, and from at least seven different dies. Most of the London-minted coins appear scarcely ever to have been in circulation, as the edges of the coins are sharply turned up. There are some other coins from other mints-viz., Dublin and Waterford, and also Bristol. These have the head of Edward in a triangle on the reverse. These coins are considerably worn, although in good preservation. The coins of Alexander are in nearly as good preservation as those of Edward, and, like them were struck from two or three dies, but are of a much better workmanship. The Scottish coins must have been struck some time between 1250 and 1279. The jar containing the coins was found in stiff red clay at a depth of about eight or nine inches below the surface, and had been deposited near the chapel which was erected by David II. in commemoration of his landing from La Rochelle, at a cove near where the chapel stood, along with his English Queen, on the 4th June, 1342. The King created Bervie a Royal burg on the night of his arrival.

The Monetary Conference. The Latin Union. The conference of representatives of the Latin Monetary Union in Paris. will, it is stated, hold one or two more sittings; but the general result of its deliberations may already be summed up as follows: - The Latin Union will continue to exist, only one clause of the agreement being modified. This change has been agreed to, with the object of meeting the wishes of Italy. Henceforth the Italian twofranc, one franc, and half a franc pieces will no longer be legal tender in the territories of the contracting States. They will be returned' to Italy as they are paid by the public into the State Treasuries, the Italian Government redeeming them in gold within ten days. Italy will recover her liberty of issuing fractional currency. The only question still to be discussed by the conference has reference to the special treatment claimed by Switzerland with regard to the date of delivery and payment. Should Italy not redeem her fractional coins. within the stipulated time, she will pay interest which, as far as France is concerned, will be determined by the rate prevailing in. the case of French Treasury Bonds.

PARIS, Oct. 30. Many of the newspapers to-day protest against the decision of the Monetary Conference regarding the withdrawal. of Italian fractional coins from circulation outside Italy, and especially against the facilities accorded to that country for the repayment of their value. The Journal des Débats remarks that such an arrangement would allow Italy to pay when she pleased in gold with interest at the rate of 2 per cent, and that Italy would find it to her advantage not to settle the debt. The Libre Parole declares that the operation is really a loan of 100.000.000 fr. at 2 per cent, whereas Berlin asked 6 per cent., for a loan of 50.000.000 fr.

Reuter.

* **

(St James' Gazette.)

LA MONNAIE DE NICKEL EN ITALIE

Les journaux de Rome apprennent qu'au Ministère du trésor et des finances on étudie la question de la frappe de pièces de 50 centimes et de 1 franc en nickel, afin de remédier au manque des pièces en argent, qui se fait, on le sait, cruellement sentir depuis quelque temps en Italie.

Ces pièces seraient mises en circulation après retrait des pièces de cuivre pour une valeur équivalente.

Le gouvernement italien estime, paraît-il, que, de cette manière, il ne se rendrait pas coupable d'une transgression des dispositions de l'union monétaire latine, qui fixe la quantité des pièces d'argent que chaque Etat peut frapper, mais qui ne parle pas de la monnaie de cuivre.

* **

MONNAIES PARTICULIÈRES ITALIENNES

Le comte San Severino, sénateur et président du conseil d'administration de la Banque populaire de Milan, a fait frapper de la monnaie divisionnaire à son effigie, qu'il distribue aux ouvriers de ses propriétés rurales. Le gouvernement, qui ne sait comment remédier au manque de monnaie divisionnaire, ne le poursuivra pas plus qu'il ne poursuit les commerçants de Milan qui mettent en circulation de petites coupures de papier.

* **

LA MONNAIE D'ALUMINIUM

La question de l'utilisation de l'aluminium pour la monnaie préoccupe depuis plusieurs mois les journaux, les chambres de commerce et certaines notabilités de France. Ce métal qui coûtait autrefois fort cher, est tombé, grâce aux progrès récents de l'électrométallurgie, au même prix que le cuivre, à volume égal et l'on espère l'obtenir à meilleur marché encore. Chacun sait les excellentes qualités de l'aluminium et les inconvénients, les dangers mêmes, que présentent la monnaie de cuivre; on ne peut donc que faire les voeux les plus ardents en faveur de l'adoption générale de l'aluminium pour les monnaies de billon. "Revue suisse de Numismatique”