The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-01-28
-AECIEET COINS.
WHAT THE MINT AT PHILADELPHIA
CONTAINS.

CONTAINS.
Many people will visit the United
States Mint in this city this year,
and among many other wonderful
things nothing will be of more interest
to the curious than the extensive and
splendid collection of coins of all
countries reaching from the remotest
ages of antiquity. There is proba-
biiity that some of these may be placed
IN the Centennial. Among the most
Interesting specimens of the coins of
the Greek republics are the coins of
fgina, which are supposed To be the
oldest coinage in existence, and date
back to the origin OF the art, about 100
years b. e.. They bear the device of
tortoise, which is emblematic of the
island lying securely in the water; the
reverse bears no mark or device except
that of the stake on which it laid while
coming. In the same collection is the
silver tetra irachm, with the device,
head of Minerva of ancient stvle; the
reverse, q large owl with the letters A.
.. f., initials of Athens-this being
coined in bold relief Historical facts
indicate its age as from twenty-five to
twenty-thrce centuries. Its value is
about sixty-eight cents in our money.
Another of interest is 4 coin of Agus-
tus and Agrippa, in whose lay it was
struck. In the case containing the
coinage of the Greek monarchs is q
small coin having the device of Mace
douian horse and no reverse except
push marks. This is supposed to date
before the reign of Alexander l., who
lived about 500 b. c.: also, one of the
reign of Alexander Ill, bearing al
ear ring, thus proving that, as i'll these
days, it was fashionable to wear pcrd-
ant ornaments, even in those ancient
times.
The ancient realm of Egypt had no
coined money before the Greek Kings,
dynasty which resulted from the con-
quest by Alexander of MacedOn and
began at his death 4 noticeable coin
of the PtOlemies weighs over three
ounces. In the class OF the Roman
family coin is an enormous bronze
piece (aes), weighing 81 ounces, and
bearing the head OF Jams. 1t dates
back about 500 years g. G. This class
includes about 200 Roman coins. from
Cesar down to Byzantine, A. u. 1913:
among them specimens of the coins
caused to be struck hv Mare Antony,
bearing the number of the respective
legions under his command to whom
they were paid on the diverse, while
on the reverse is the rude representa-
tion of Il vessel propelled by oars.
In another case, containing coins
selected from the collections of all
countries, is found that interesting and
sacred one. the widows mite Of the
New Testament. This is in bronze and
very small, the device effaced; it was
found near the walls of Jerusalem.
Another of the same class is the jew
ish shekel of Simon Maccabeus, B. C..
145. bearing the pot of mamma with the
shek,d of Israel g; reverse, the budding
rod of Aaron with Jerusalem the Holy
Its value is fifty-eight cents. Also,
the penny of the New Testament
denarius OF riberius, Roman Emperor
A. ID. 144T, value fifteen cents. One
of the oldest gold coinages is the gold
en- daric, Darius of Persia, b. G. $50,
valued ut So 80 and the slater Of Alex
ander the Great, B. G.. 335-35S de-
vice. head of Alexander rs Hercules
with the lions skin. Close by is the
Kleopatrasa, bronze Of Cleopatra,
the celebrated Egyptian Queen; re-
verse, an eagle legend, "Kleopa-
traSas."
Then there is the mauch of Ptolemy
Philadelphus, King OF Egypt, b. c.
2S4. bearing device of Arsinoe, his
wife and sister, a niece of Alexander
the Great. 1t is of fine coinage and re-
marllably well preserved. There are
also gold coins of Britain prior to the
Roman conquest and nearly contem-
poraneous with tie Christian era
among them the penny of Ethelbert
and the corausius of the Roman En-
peror in Britain, A. ID. 287 to 293
Then there is the penny OF William the
Conqueror, the four-pence of Robert
Bruce, and uear them the halt crown
of Oliver Cromwell a piece of his
torical interest is the device Of Charlie
mague, A. u. T67, valued at seven
cents. also gold coin of Ferdinand
and Isabella OF Spain. There are, in
deed. thousands of all kinds of coins
Philadelphia Press.
CURIOUS FREAK OF a DoG.--A Rad
IL ,--i. m