The Nevada journal., 1852-07-10
MISCELLANY.
THE ORIGIN OF COINS.

Fair medals. one OF which we inspec-
ted last week, suggested n train Of
reflections on the beauty Of medals
and coins. and the means of coming,
which it may be worth while, perhaps,
to lay before our readers.
In the early ages of mankind, all
traffic, as is well Known, was conduc-
ted by means of barter. The herds
man exchanged his cattle for goods,
or the merchant his goods for food TO
cat. But such rude condition of af-
fairs could not, it is clear, continue
long; and the necessities Of mankind,
therefore, led to the substitution OF a
medium of exchange, or representa-
tive Of value. The precious metals,
from their intrinsic worth as well as
their portable character, naturally sug-
gested themselves for this purpose
at first, however, they were used in
simple bars, without even stamp or
coinage, and were, in such cases, nee
essarily weighed, and often assayed at
every transfer But this being found
inconvenient, the expedient was hit
upon of authentica;ing the weight and
standard by mark. Afterwards. that
the need of commerce might still fur
ther be consulted, the bars were made
of various sizes. In the end, still fur
ther to impress tho character Ct a le-
galized currency on the gold, silver,
bronze, or copper employed, appro-
pirate shapes, differing from those of
the simple bar, were selected, the cir
cular form of the present coin being
that most generally adopted.
1t was not always, however, that
money was made round. Our British
ancestors, prior to the invasion by Ju-
lius Caesar employed rings, sometimes
singly, but oftener made into a chain,
for currency. Large quantities of this
species of coin have been dug up in
England. ireland, Wales, and Scot
and. The smallest piece of money OF
this description, which has yet been
discovered, is gold ring, weighing
half pennyweight.
But others containing three times
this weight or five, ten, sixteen, or
Twenty-Five times the weight, up to the
weight of pound troy, have also been
discovered; thus proving that the rings
were not intended for ornaments, but
for currency. Even among the Ro-
mons, circular coins were not in use
until the time of Servius Tullius, and
lin Great Britain they were not en-
ployed till sometime after the conquest
by Cesar. Of all the ancient nations,
the Greeks produced the most beauti.
ful coins--those of the Romans not
being particularly elegant till late
period in their history. The method
of stamping the piece Of money was
simple. Usually, the blow which gave
the impress, was struck by a hammer;
and, at first, the die was cut in the
face of the instrument itself. So late
rs two centuries ago, the coming OF
money. even in England, was conduc-
ted in comparatively rude manner i;
and many Spanish quarter yet in
circulation bears decisive evidence OF
uncouth coming.
Even at this day, the coined money
of Europe, generally, is disgraceiu' to
art, and is frequently basely alloyed.
The exceptions are the gold and sill
yer pieces of England, France, Bclgi'
um, and Prussia. Our own coins are
not so good as they might be, a fact
which any person may verify by COM
pairing them with well executed med
als-that struck in honor of Mr.. Clay,
or those issued at the Worlds Fair,
for instance. Some of the finest coins
and medals ever executed were those
issued by the Emperor Napoleon
Generally, however, the European
coins are as much inferior to those oI
the United States, as the latter are tc
the coins of England or France. The
worst executed coins, among civilized
nations, are those of Mexico and South
American States generally.
Il word more, and we shall have
"coined" enough, at least for one read
ing, on coins and coming Money is
word, we are told by Chambers, de-
rived from the temple of Jnpiier No.
meta, where a metallic currency was
first struck by the ancients. Cash
comes from the French word caisSe
Golfer or chest in which money is
kept. And pecuniary is derived from
pecus, the Latin for flock or herd Of
animals, these being, in the earlier
ages, ,rhe equivalents for money.
PENALTIES The penalty Of buy
ing cheap clothes is the same as that
of coinu To law-thc certaintv Of los