Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1875-09-16
THOSE OLD COINS.
A Csin s,sss Years Old.

since our mention in Tuesdays
issue, Of the queer collection of old
Roman and Greek coins possessed
by Mr.. Grow, q painter of this city,
quite . good deal OF curiosity has
been manifested regarding their an
tiquity, history and origin Mr.. Ar.
oustein, book-keeper OF Walter,
Rosenthal 4 Co., who is . Greek
scholar and somewhat OF scientist,
has succeeded In identifying one OF
them, rs having been coined during
the reign Of Leonidas, the celebrated
King OF Sparta, who it will be re-
membered was slain by the hordes
Of the Persian monarch at Their
mopyl@ In the year $50 B. c, AFTER
having with a small band of Spar
sans defended the pass against the
entire Persian army. This would
make the coin IN question date back
two thousand three hundred and
fifty-five years. Thus,is new sow
ener and tribute OF history placed be-
fore us to remind one OF the ancients,
their manners and customs and the
mist and table with which ancient
Greece is covered. Reviewing our
historical studies, we find that the
ancient Greeks held firmly TO the
belief that they were the original
jewellers of the country in which
they lived, and sprang from the
earth wherein they dwelt. They
heard with bitter contempt the prob
able conjectures which traced their
origin to the inhabitants of Egypt,
and denied with disgust their identi-
ficatiou with the tribes OF Asia
Governed by monarchs, there were
rs many kings as there were cities;
but the monarchial power gradually
declined, and the love of liberty es-
tablished republics one after the
other, until, finally, no part OF
Greece remained in the hands OF an
absolute sovereign. The expedi-
tions of the Argonsuts rendered the
Greeks, as q nation, respectable and
prominent among the neighboring
nations, and in the age that followed,
the wars of Thebes and Troy devel-
oped their heroism and valor in bat
tie. virtuous and simple, yet they
were ambitious OF fame and despised
the accnmulations of wealth for
wealth's sake. The Greeks, even at
this early day, were liberal patrons
of the arts and sciences, but success
in battle, made them essentially a
war-like people, and when they had
everpowered the undisciplined
armies of the barbarian Persians, and
found no one to dispute their power
abroad, they gave themselves UP to
intestine struggles, turned thsir.arms
against each either, and leagued with
foreign States to destroy the most
flourishing OF their cities. The Mes
sonian and Pelop onnesiaE wars are
tit examples of the dreadful calam-
tiles which befel this valorous peo-
pie during .heir many civil discords;
and the ease with which the
sword and gold of Philip OF
Macedon corrupted and again
enslaved Greece, fatally prov
ed that when a naiion becomes indo-
lent and luxurious nj home, X ceases
20 DO respectable IN the eyes of neigh
boring nations, and tails an easy
prey to the ambitions and vslor of
others. Thus do we have an exam
pie before us, that our own Repn5-
lie though now free, powerful and
respected by world OF mouarchies,
could by corruption, Incidence ans
contentious among ourselves, De
conquered aud led cap,ivs in
chains at the beck AID bid of . con-
auerins ruler. As a Republic,
Greece stood m many years, and
while thu literally governed, her
peosie were happy and prosperous.
A captive of Philip Of Macedon.
sse passed under the yoke of Rome,
and was miserable. And this il the
strain Of thought induced a. we look
in wonderment upon the little coin
before ns--tbe handiwork OF a PEG
pie who lived, fourished and coined
money tour hundred and eighty
years before the birth Of Christ.
4 DELEGATION Of prominent men
from "Old Virriuny" visited New