Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-01-08
HISTORY OF MONEY.
The 0hekeIs Of fhe HebpeWs-Oid Remau
Ceins-kssly Rnslish Msnsy.

Csias-Kasly Raglan sisasy.
New York Times.
In the November number of the
Nineteenth Century, Sir John Lub-
book has an article entitled aThe
History Of Money" in which the dis
tinguished author expresses his in
debtedness to such well.known nu-
misma:ists as Mr.. Poole, Mr.. Head,
Mr.. Gardner and Mr.. Evans. Some
more particular details in regard to
some of the coins and their history,
as cited by Sir John Lubbock, may
be of interest.
In describing the shekel Sir John
Lubbock states that the diverse is
inscribed in Hebrew: "Shekel Of Is
rael, year A." on tho reverse, "Jeru-
salem the Holy Triple City" On
the diverse there is the figure of
chalioe; on the reverse q stem with
three buds or flowers, typical, per
haps, of ths cities, but not absolutely
indicted. The respect paid by all
classes, irrespective of religion, is re-
markable. In numismatic collections
it is the first coin generally asked for
aud desire is genera. y expressed
to handle it. It is, indeed, the most
tangible thing that connects the pres
ent with the biblical past Very un-
fortunately, there is no coin that has
been more frequently counterfeited.
1t is quite within bounds to say that,
among the many hundred Of SO. called
shekels found among collections over
three.fourths of them are forgeries
As the shekel has but little of class.
ic art about it it has been readily
initiated.
In describing tho earliest Roman
coins Sir John states that they were
first struck in bronze or copper, either
by Numa or by Servius Tulius.
These bronze and copper coins were
not struck but cast They havo a
certain massiveness, but even though
in the infancy of art have positive
artistic merit. 1t is very possible
that the date of the
FIRST SILVER MONEY
in Roman usage was anterior to the
Punic war, 900 "A. D. Former nu
mismasts seem to have placed too
great reliance upon an assertion
made by Pliny. Careful researches
made during the last few years by
Mr.. G. L Fauardan. prove conclu
sively that the silver coinage first
struck by the Romans was made ma
ny years anterior to the date as.
signed by Pliny. This view has now
the endorsement of the greatest Eu-
ropean authorities. Mr.. Fauardant
bases his opinion on the following
consideration "Known coins hay
ing the name Roma struck in Cam
panis, contradict the assertion OF
Pliny, and tend to the belief that
Roman silver coins were struck long
before the period assigned by him.
Az early as 500 B. G. Campania was
brought under the dominion OF Rome
and It is difficult to believe that the
practical Romans would have waited
more than two-thirds Of a century
before usiEg the monetary talents OF
the vanquished. 1t is more ration
al to think that at the PEI iod men
toned by Pliny the Roman govern.
ment monopolized at Rome the
mintage Of the coins which we're
until that time struck in Magma
Greoia." 10 all questions of a con-
temporaneous character it is mis-
take to suppose that the ideas of
one people were not readily taken
up by anothsr, and no greater error
can be made than to believe tha!
the interchange OF the art of thought
is not rapid. Students of ancient
history, though fully approaching
the wonderful ability we have to-day
of moving from place to place are
apt to overlook the. travelling pow
ers of the old Greeks and Romans
In archaeological research this fact
becomes more apparent Overy day,
that even in prehistoric times the
national products of country or
the works of people were inter-
changed though thousands of miles
might have divided the two couD.
tries.
In describing the early English
coins, those whose dates can hardly
be fixed, so long anterior we're they
to the Roman conquest, the charac
ter of the design on these coins is
briefly alluded to 10 recent article
on the Anthem collection. 1t is an
other proof of how rapidly ideas
were taken. We know that the
Phenicians traded with the inhabit.
ants of Great Britain. We have
most conclusive evidence that thete
people had the gold slater of Philip
of Macedon, for they copied it In
their rough indecent way. If our
Indians were metal workers we
might expect them, in just the same
way, to initiate our coins. A bad
copy, made by the rude islanders,
of
THE BEAUTIFUL GREEK COIN,
! Wnioh oou oopy WOO houo WoEeo III
time until all traces of the original
slater were lost. 1t is the strongest
evidence one can have of the decad.
ence Of art. Mr.. King, the dis,in.
guishsd collector of antique gems,
once t1ed an interesting expert
ment. Taking a slater of Philip
he had the outlines copied by boy
who had q slight knowledge of
drawing. This copy, which had a
slight resemblance to the original,
was given to second lad a. mod
el. By the time shat it had passed
through these hands what was pro-
duoed bore q striking resem blance
to the strange figures seen on early
British coins. If verbal commu.
nication or written tradition takes
strange variations in passing
through certain period of time
how much more eccentric mus. be
the vsgaries of outline? The fillet
on the head and the ear alone re
main of the slater. 10 time the fiI.
let became . braid like ornament,
the ear q crescent and this is redu-
plicated until it is made into the
shape of q st. Andrews cross.
In comparing the various metals