Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-06-19

! ANCIENT MONEY Before the invasion Of Juliu!
Cesar, the natives Of England had tin plates, iron
plates and rings, which we're money and their only
! money. On the authority of Seneca, curious &C
count is given of period when leather, appropri
stely stamped to give it certain legal character,
was the only current money, At 8 comparatively
recent date in the annals of Europe Frederick the
| second who died in 1850, at the siege of Milan, &C.
tualy paid his troops in leather money Nearly the
/ same circumstance occurred in England during the
! great wars of the barons. In the course of 145O,
/ King John, for the ransom Of his royal person,
promised to pay Edward, the third, OfEDgand three
millions of gold crowns In order to fulfill the obi
/ CATION he was reduced to the notifying necessity
Of paying the expenses f the palace in leather mon
ey, in the centre Of each piece there being little
bright point of silver. In that reign is found the
origin Of the travested honor Of bOyhood, called
comforting the leather medal. The imposing oere
monies accompanying presentation gave full force
dignity and value to leather jewel which noble
men were probably proud and grati6ed to receive al
the hands of Majesty.
So late as 1874, there was an immense issue of
money in Holland stamped on small sheets Of paste
board But further back in the vista of years, NJ.
ma Pompilius the second King Of Rome who reign
ed six hundred and seventy-tWo years before the
Christian era, made money out Of wood as we'll as
leather; knowledge of which might have infusn-
ced King John in the bold project Of substituting
the tanned hide of an animal for gold and silver,
well known to his subjects to be exceedingly pre-
cious
Both gold and silver appear to have been in ex
tensive circulation in Egypt sitter their potency
was understood in Asia From thence they we're
introduced into Carthage snd Greece; aud, finally,
travelling further and further in a westerly direc
ton, the city Of Rome discovered the Importance Of
legaizing their circulation.
Weight having always been Of the first Importance
in elrly times, the shape of money appears to have
been regarded with perfect indifference for series
Of ages.
When the bits and portions Of metal received
precious we're extensively circulated it is quite pro
babls that each pOssessor shaped them to suit his
own conception, practioed 70 some extent at this
time in remote places in the East Indies. The payer
away cuts of parts with shears until be obtains, BY
exact weight, the stipulated amount. II was thus
that travelled with the evidence Of their posses
siOns in q sack. But greatinconvenienee must ha' Q
resulted from this often tedious process; and as ma
tons advanced in civilization and the economic arts
certain mark impression on certain sized pieces
were acknowledged to be the sign OF certain
weight.
This facilitated negotiations, and afterwards led
to further improvements, both in the shape, weight
and beauty of the external devices. By and BY, the
profile of the King the date Of the eoinage, and the
record Of important events gave still more complete
ness and character to this circulating article Of ez
change.