Thomas County cat., 1890-08-14

penhagen, Stockholm, Florence, and
Madrid all have noted coin museums,
the collections being of untold value;
and numisma societies the members
of which are the most renowned among
the learned men of the earth. The in
centive which is given, by cultivation of
this taste for study Of history, as we'll as
the assistance thereto afforded by 1t. has
been always appreciated by advanced
teachers as an invaluable aid to educa-
ton. and not only in illustrating but
also in confirming history. no science has
borne q more important part.
Coins are divided by numismatists
into three grand classes:
Ancient. from earliest existence, 700
B. c., to the deposition of Romulus
Augustus, A. D. 476.
Medi9caI middle Ages, from the
above period to the Reformation, A. d.
1917.
Modern, from the Reformation to the
present time.
The medieval and modern are. almost
without exception, limitations of the
ancient, and the coins of these later GEN.
turies show little or nothing of superior
ity in our civilized artists over the mag
nifcent coinages Of Greece and Rome,
struck more than 1900 years ago.
Every range that mind may take into
the far past is furnished with substan-
tial and abundant suggestion, and relia-
BILE information by study of the coins of
antiquity.
The rulers. male and femal g; their
births, marriages, triumphs, their victories
in art, love and war, their deaths are all
recorded upon these pieces Of metal. Re-
ligious sentiments and changes, manners
of dress and ceremonials, equipages,
weapons, furniture, ETC., ETC., are plainly
delineated upon their coins and medals.
Even the character of the individual of
whom the piece is commemorative may
be closely arrived at. Some place but
their plain effigy, or have it in connection
with members Of their own family; others
celebrate their triumphs, and appear
proudly crowned with laurels, while still
others defy themselves and pose as Jupi-
ter, Hercules and gods of their time.
Mythology largely lends its aid In beau
tifying these coins and medals, and its
destinations increase the romantic interest
which their possession or the knowl-
edge of them through illustration and
description e1cites.
The Bible student finds much to carry
his mind back to the very earliest period
and subsequent growth OF revealed re-
upion in this pursuit, for coins of the
Christion types, such as the labrum, or
standard bearing the cross, are tound
from the date of the reign OF Constantine
onwards and on one coin OF Fetr0nio is
seen the celebrated legend, In hoe signo
rictor eris.
The Greeks excelled in the beauty and
idealism of their coins. and most Of the
Roman pieces were struck from dies
made by Greek artists, and these latter
al nm nf he
faithfulness with which they portray in
diyidual likenesses, such Nero, Antonio,
the Aatonines, Fdustinds, Caesars, Aler-
ander. and others, and in recording events
celebrated historically, as the crowning
of PtoIemy Epipkanes by Lepidus, the
introduction of elephants into Rome by
Metellus, the construction of the Colos.
scum BY Nero and Vespdsian, the over
throw of Judea by Titus, and all grand
changes in the history of the world
The Roman coinage commenced about
$50 or 24o B. c., with the massive copper
ne ordre. and about l70 B. C. gold and
silver coins were issued by various Roman
families under permits from the state
An immense number we're also struck il
The provinces conquered by Rome.
with julius Caesar commenced the i'm
psrial series, which lasted until A. D
as. After that ruler the Senate reserved
"a itself the right Of striking coppe
woney. which was for Q long perio,
marked S. c. tSenatus Consuttu).
The word money" is claimed by man
.rthorities to be derived from the Latil
Mo,sfn because the Roman mint stoo
n the temple of Juno Moneta; bu
thonoh the mint employees here nun
hsred tens Of thousands Of men engage
= strikinR coins, yet IN immense amouI
vas produced elsewhere.
WHEN ve remember that the Roman
,.ssassed NO banks Of deposit. and be
sccrete their aocamulatsd install vealt
& ~ eesth and elsswhsee. nd tAae q