The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-07-17

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 well 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 a more important part.
Coins are divided by numismat1sts
into three grand classes:
Ancient. from earliest existence, 700
B. c., to the deposition of Romulus
Augustus, A. D. 476.
MediGcGJ middle Ages, from the
above period to the Reformation, A. ID.
1917.
Modern, from the Reformati 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
ity in our civilized artists over the mag
nlicent coinages of Greece and Rome,
struck more than 1000 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 e; 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
delinested 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 oe 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
and subsequent growth OF revealed re-
ligion in this pursuit, for coins of the
Christian types. such as the tGbraGn, or
standard bearing the cross, are found
from the date of the reign of Constantine
EDWARDS, and on one coin of VetrGniO is
seen the celebrated legend, In hoe sigR0
UictOr eris.
The Greeks excelled in the beauty and
idealism 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
dividual likenesses, such Nero, AntoniG,
the Antonines, FdustinGs, ClgSGrs, Alec
Gnder, and others, and in recording events
celebrated historically, as the crowning
of Pt0Iemy EpiphGnes by LepidGs, the
introduction of elephants into Rome by
Metellus, the construction of the Colos-
scum by Nero and VespGSian, the over
throw of Judea by Titats, and all grand
changes in the history of the world.
The Roman coinage commenced about
$50 or 240 B. c., with the massive copper
as grace. and about 10 B. 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 JatIiats Cesar commenced the i'm
perial series, which lasted until A. D..
476. After that ruler the Senate reserved
to itself the right of striking copper
money, which was for a long period
marked S. G. (Sendtus Consuttat).
The word money" is claimed by many
authorities to be derived from the Latin
MonetG, because the Roman mint stood
in the temple of Juno MonetG; but
though the mint employees here num-
bered tens of thousands OF men engaged
in striking coins, yet an immense amount
was produced elsewhere.
When we remember that the Romans
possessed no banks of deposit, and had
to secrete their accumulated metal wealth
N the earth and elsewhere. and that the