The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-07-02
miscellaneous.

foino two miles and half from Muir
freessoro' in an eastwardly direction
from thence, each of them had hole
near the edge. Their size was about
that ct nine-p penny silver piece, Of the
present time. The rim projected fur
thor than it ought, as if it had been in.
tended to be clipped. On the diverse
was representation in relief OF female,
full faced, steady countenance, rather
stern than otherwise, with cap or he'll
met on the head, upon the top Of which
was crescent, extending from the fore>
head backwards. In the legend was the
word Minerva on the reverse was a
slim female figure, with ribbon in her
left hand, witch was tied to the neck of
a slim, neatly made dog, that goes be-
fore her; and in the other bow. The
legend, for want ofa magnifying glass, is
not yet ascertained. Amongst the rest,
j, is believed, there are the letters S. C.
After the ground had been for some
years cleared and ploughed,it was enclos-
ed in a garden on the summit of small
hill, and in digging there, these coins
were found, eighteen inches under the
surface.
Upon these facts the following re-
marks are made in manuscript writing,
now IN the press in the preceding paris
OF which, other Roman coins, found in
Tennessee and Kentucky, are described
ono of which is coin with three heads
on it:
There are no Assyrian or Babylonian
coins, nor any Phenician, till 400 years
before Christ. Sidon and Tyre, used
weights: coinage was unknown in Egypt
in early times. The Lydian coins arc
the Oldest. The Persian coins began
$40 years before Christ. The Daries
were issued by Darius Hytaspes SIS or
221 years before Christ.
Roman coins have been found in the
orkneys, and in the remotest parts of
Europe, Asia and Africa. Some of the
small brass coins of the Romans, have
three heads upon one sides as in that of
Valerian, and his two sons Gallienus and
Valerian. On the Roman coins are fl.
cures OF deities and personiEcations,
which are commonly attended with their
names. Minerva, for instance, with her
helmet and name inscribed in the legend:
sometimes spear in her right hand, and
shield, with Medusa's head in the other,
and an owl standing by her, and some
times cock, and sometimes the olive
Diana is manifest in her crescent, by
her bow and culver on one side and of
ten by her hounds.
The Roman brass coins have 3. C. for
Senatus Consalatunt, till the time of Gall
lienus. The small brass coins ceased to
be issued for time in the reign of Perti
max, A. D. 1872, and from thence to the
time of Valerian,A. d. 254. Small brass
coins continued from the latter period
till A. ID. $40.
Some coins are found with holes pierc>
ed through them, and sometimes with
small strings fastened. Such we're worn
as ornaments ofthe head, neck and wrist,
either by the ancients themselves,as bear
ing images of favorite deities, or in mo-
dern times, when the Greek girls thus
decorated their persons.
From these criteria, it may be deter.
mined, that these metals are no, coun-
tiers, but real Roman coins.
Of all the Roman coins which have
been found in Tennessee and Kentucky.
the earliest bears date in the time Of An.
tonius, the next in the time Of Commo.
dus, the next before the time ofPerlinax,
and the last in the time of VaIeriap.--
Coins, prior or subsequent, to the space
embraced in these periods, are not found:
and from thence the conclusion seems to
be furnished, that they were brought into
America within ona or fro car,,,.:.. =.