Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-07-26

psnhagen, Stockholm, Florence, and
Madrid all have noted coin museums,
the collections being of untold value;
and numismatic 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 it. 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 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. AIS.
.hed,aral Middle Ages from the
above period to the Reformation, A. D.
1877.
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 CEN
turtles show little or nothing OF superior
i,y in our civilized artists over the mag
lfcent coinages of Greece and Rome,
struck more than 1000 years ago.
livery range that mind may take into
the far past Is furnished with substan-
tial and abundant suggestion, and relia-
bic information by study OF the coins of
antiquity.
births, marriages, triumphs, their victories
in art. love and war, their deaths are all
recorded upon these pieces Of metal. Re-
lsrxfn .@a nh
of dress and ceremonials, equipages,
weapons, furniture, etc., ETC., are plainly
delineated upon their coins and medals.
Even tie 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 excites.
The Bible student finds much 10 carry
his mind back to the very earliest period
aud subsequent growth of revealed re-
hglon In this pursuit, for coins of the
Christian types, such as the tGbrtm, or
standard bearing the cross, are Sound
from the date OF the reign of Constantine
UPWARDS, AMI on one coin of Vetrdni0 is
seen the celebrated les end, In hoe si0no
victor er,s."
The Greeks excelled in the beauty and
idealsm Of their coins, ana most of the
Roman pieces were struck from dies
made by Greek artists, and these latter
are more valuable, on account of the
faithfulness with which they portray in
dividu / likenesses, such Nero, Antonia.
the ARioHiRes, Fdustinds, Cnsdrs, Aler-
Gader, and others, and in recording events
celebrated historically, as the browning
of Pi0iemg Epiphdnes by Lepidus, the
inti oduetion of oil plants into Rome by
Metellus, the construction of the Colos-
scum 10y Nero ind fespdsiaB. the over
throw Of Judoa by Titus, and all grand
changes in the history of The world.
The Roman coinage commenced about
$50 or 40 b. G., with the MAJ iys copper
as grsre and about 40 b. G. gold aud
silver coins we're issued by varions Roman
families under permits flom the state
An immense number we're also struck In
the provinces conquered by Rome.
With julius CGsar commenced the i'm
perial serios which lasted nntil A. ID.
t16 After that ru Ct tho senate rtsefved
10 itself the fisht OF Striking copper
money which was for laus period
marked s. q. lsrHaigs faHsulfai.
Tbs efl mopey ID H.almeA bv many
sulhoFillei ie 10 derived from che Latin
AaHfia. begaHse iha h0mau mnt stood
= the temple ef dHH8 Ma#sfa, but
though tla mlut imrleYss here uum.
tsfsi teas of tnuQaaHis 81 mea ouaasal
IL etflkiaq tataN tst ~ llAnaaaa anlaani
s4s Pc lnasi hsebfra
hhsH se f#Ha.ahaf lAaf lha Nauana
tert sHi ne tsHks af AspGtlg. suA Hsl
+ asNlata llslf ,0aaala' ED Nafli scala
= Nass , sd slss fasls tHH ihsI va