Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-01-08
Ancient Coins.
There is quite a full collection of Ancien
-.

There is quite n full collection of Ancien
Coins on view in New York.
1t is quite evident that early English
coins took something Of the Greek designs
and later the Roman, though very much
changed. On many early coins the fable of
tho wolf sucking the twins is repeated, but
ii requires very ingenious amount of num-
lsmatic acquaintance TO discover it. This
curious diversi III in art Is shown by Evans
IN his Ancient British Coins" Originally
the fine coinage of Phillip was used as type
in Britain, but gradually worse copies being
made from bad limitations in time all SEM
blance Of the slater was lost, until only the
crown, throwing locks, and an ear became
visible. There is nothing more remarkable
than this transition in art from the really
sublime To the ludicrous Those barbarians
who invaded Macedonia after Alexander,
though having Greek art constantly before
their eyes, did exactly the same thing as the
early Britons. OF ancient British coins
there are two examples, Of Anglo-Saxon
money some u. There is Danish silver
penny of Cnut or Canute, both rare and fine;
of William the Conqueror there are three
examples, the William being rendered, as
is usual. Pillem Rex, both p and Y having
been used for w. There is a rare silver
penny of Rufus, which both Ruding and
Hawkins have declared TO be authentic, for
it has always been more or less troublesome
to make exact differences between the mon
ey of the Conquorer and his illfated SOM
The Plantagenet money, remarkably good
and varied, is represented by some 20 pieces.
In the first of the reigns of this dynasty the
monnayer struck not only his own name on
the piece, but that of the town where the
coin was issued after Edward H., only the
town appears. in the Iudors there are 35
pieces. The No. n, a shilling of Edward
VI, 1919, Is the earliest piece in the col
lection which bears date, but the Edwards
Of l547 also had the date. The No. 81 of
the same King, 1903, gold sovereign or
double rial, is the first dated English gold
coin. There are some good examples of
hammered money. The Stuart collection,
with Oliver Cromwell and the Common
wealth, with the Stuart Pretenders, is large
and of exceeding interest. The No. 20,
James |. gold rose to rial, though a flat
piece, is distinguishable for its art. showing
that elief is not always necessary in order
to produce effects. There are numerous
pieces of Charles |. which are very good,
and in excellent preservation. The No. S6,
a shilling, is q fine type of Briops skill.
There is an exceedingly rare piece, silver
pound of Charles l., 1912; also one Of the
same date of half-pound. AS II is often
stated that the pound is an imaginary unit,
it is worth while calling attention to these
two pieces. There are always some good
pieces of the time of Oliver Cromwell, the
work OF dye-sinker called Simon. 1t is,
perhaps, strange that this name recalls
famous Greek artist, who left his impress
on the finest of all Greek coins, the money
of Syracuse There is a strange bit of num-
ismatic history attached to these coins of
Cromwell and the Commonwealth. Haw-
kins. the author of ''The Silver Coins Of
England" an excellent book of reference,
eft out in his work all mention of Crom-
well, for he was in lS4l, when his book
was printed, too good royalist to allow
that the greatest Commoner of the world
had ever existed at all. No. 11S. n gold
two-guinea piece of Charles H., is rare
piece. The guinea was introduced when
New-Netherlands was taken from the Dutch.
In this department Of the collection there
IS a satirical medal, representing Queen
Anne as Dalilah, cutting off the hair OF
Louis XIV, (or was it his wig?) the King
as Samson. On the reverse, the King, who
has has gout, is dancing to the Queens
harp. The Hanovarian succession, of
course, is very full, and has innumerable,
rare, and curious pieces, for it is not always
the coins which are near to present times
which are the easier to obtain.