The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-07-16

penhagen, 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 s
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 n more important part.
Coins are divided by numismatists
into three grand classes:
Ancient, from earliest existence, 700
Is. c., to the deposition of Romulus
Augustus, A. ID. 476.
1fediGrdI Middle Ages, from the
above period to the Reformation, A. d..
1917.
Modern, from the Reform alton TO the
present time.
The medieyal and modern are. almost
without exception, limitations of the
ancient, and the coins of these later cen
turtles show little or nothing of superior
iy in our civilized artists over the mag
nIfcent conages 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-
be information by study of the coins of
antiquity.
The rulers, male and femal @; their
births, marriages, triumphs, their victories
in art. love and war, their deaths are all
recorded upon these pieces of metal Re-
Iigious sentiments and changes, manners
OF dress and ceremonials, equipages.
weapons, furniture, ETC., etc, are pl ,inly
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 efigy, 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
tfying 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
and subsequent growth of revealed re-
ligion in this pursuit, for coins of the
Christian types. such as the tdbrupl, or
standard bearing the cross, are <ound
from the date OF the reign of Constantine
UPWARDS, and on one coin of VetrGnto Is
Seen the celebrated leg end, In hoe si1RO
Uictor eris.
The Greeks excelled in the beauty and
idealism of their coins, ana most of tue
Roman pieces were struck from dies
made by Greek artists, and these latter
are more valuable, on account of the
at hftln MT frh in
dividual llkenesses, such Nero Antonio,
the ARtOniRes, Fdustinds, Caesars, Aler-
GRder. and Others, and in recording events
celebrated historically, as the crowning
of Ptotemy EpiDhdRes by Lepidus, the
init oduction of ell plants into Rome by
Metellus, the construction of the Colos-
teum by Nero and Yespusi0n, the over
throw of Judoa by Titus, and all grand
changes in the history of the world.
The Roman coinage commenced about
230 or 240 b. c., with the mas sive copper
0s Craze. and about l7O Il. G. gold and
silver coins were issued by various Roman
families under permits from the state.
An immense number were also struck in
the provinces conquered by Rome.
With Julius CGsdr commenced the i'm
perial series, which lasted until A. ID.
40. After that ruler the Sen ate reserved
to itself the right of striking copper
money. which was for a long period
marked $. &. (SeRdtus Consultu).
The word money" is claimed by many
authorities 10 be derived from the Latin
Monetd, because the Roman mint stood
in the temple of Juno Moneta; but
though the mint employees here num-
bered tens of thousands OF men engaged
in striking coins, yet an immense amount
was preluced elsewhere.
When we remember that the Romans
posse ssed no banks OF deposit, and had
20 sscrete their accumulated metal wealth
In tie earth and elsevheIe. and that the