The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-16
Coins OF ANTIQUE GLORY
Specimens Among the Wonders Of
the National Museum.
Many Embicms OF Sncred Character
-The Obolus Demanded by Ferry
man Chnron for Passage Over the
River Styx Medals struck in
EcnOr of Alexander the Great.

Eonor of Alexander the Great
Among the many interesting exhibit
which are excluded from a place in tn,
National Museum owing to lack of spac,
is Prof Thomas Wilson'S magnificent coil
collections, embracing over 1.Sc0 coi!ec
} tons. \ small portion only OF this col
lection is now to be seen in the east gal
!, lery opening from the rotunda, but this
includes some of the rarest examples il
the world.
The ardor Of the enthusiastic coin col
lector is readily conceivable to the specta-
tor. On these little pieces of metal we
see accurate representations OF Mithri-
dates. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Anthony
Nero, Caracalla and read their character
in their features. The artistic refinement
noticeable in the Roman Coins of the Gaze
sars is contrasted with the rudeness of
the earlier Greek specimens, the Oldest Of
the latter being those OF Aegina. At that
time the process of coming consisted in
placing lump of metal of fixed weight,
and approaching to a globular form, over
die, on which was engraved the religious
or national symbol to be impressed. A
wedge or punch placed at the back OF the
metal was held steadily in one hand and
struck by hammer with the other till
the metal was sufficiently fixed in the die
to receive a good impression. Thus the
coins OF this period have lumpish ap
pearance, and on their reverse is rough,
irregular, hollow square, corresponding to
n similar square on the punch, devised
for the purpose Of keeping the coin steady
| when struck by the coming hammer. The
original coins of Asia Minor are of gold,
3 those OF Greece OF silver. The earliest
coins bear emblems of a sacred character,
often embodying some legend regarding
the foundation of the state, as the phoca
or seal on the coins of the PhOcians,
which alludes to the shoal of seals said to
have followed the fleet during the emigra-
ton Of the people.
| Some OF the more ancient specimens
! consist of double discs of metal joined to-
gether after the manner of the Siamese
twins. One of these is a very early dou-
bic slater of Miletus, in Ionit. Of which
the type is the lions head, derived from
Persia and Assyria, and associated with
the worship of Cybele. The earliest coins
OF Athens have the owl, as type of the
goddess Athene; at later period, the
head of the goddess herself takes its
place, the owl then appearing on the re-
verse. There is remarkable series of
so-called "encased'' coins struck in Magma
Graecia, of which the reverse is an exact
repetition in concave of the relief Of the
diverse. These coins are thin, fiat, sharp
in relief, and beautifully executed. Among
other Greek coins are to be noted the obo-
lus, celebrated as the fare demanded by
Clarion for conveyance over the River
Styx. In the reign of Philip of Macedop,
the coinage of Greece had attained its
full development, having perfect re-
verse. One specimen of this period is a
beautiful medal struck at Syracuse, with
the head of Proserpine accompanied By
dolphins, and for reverse a victor in the
Olympic games in chariot receiving a
wreath from Victory.
There are several coins of Alexander
the Great, struck after his conquests in |
the Greek town of Asia. A rose distin- |
cuisines those struck at Rhodes, bee !
these struck at Ephesus. etc. all such |
types or symbols generally accompanying |
the figure of Zeus on the reverse; on the |
diverse is the head of Hercules which, |
until recently was supposed to be that |
OF Alexander himself. 1t is now deter
mined to have been the immediate sue
ceSsors of the great conqueror who first
placed their own images on the coins, and |
that under pretence of dedication. Lysi- |
machus as a descendant of the god Bac
chus, and Seleucus of Apollo. clothed IN
the attributes of those deities. More
beautiful and important coins are on the
Seleucidae, in Asia. of silver, and of the |
Lagidae OF Ptolemies. in Egypt. of gold.
There are ancient Jewish coins, repre-
senting the religious history of that ma
ticn, such the shekel and haIf-shekel,
the former bearing on their diverse the
pot of mamma, with the inscription
"Schckel Israeli (the shekel of Israeli
and on the reverse Aaron's rod with three
flowers and the inscription translated
Jerusalem the Holy"
The Roman coins include the first OF the
so-called family SERIES with portrait
Of julius Caesar, finely executed. 1t is
impossible not to recognize, from this
portrait, the similarity of the general con-
tour of head and face of the great Roman
to that of cur own Lincoln, just as va
rious events in the lives of both bear n
resemblance. a coin of Au-
gustus, representing the Emperor as a
boy, is remarkable for the beauty Of the
head, and is certainly noble and ex-
luisite work of art. The coins of Livia,
and Agrippina the Elder have
also much artistic merit. The workman
ship of Nero's sestertii is very beautiful,
ihu inc POI VI inc HOHt
,f the attempts at fattery noticeable in
'culptured representations. Coins Of Yes
1asian and Titus commemorate the con-
quest of Judea. The Colosseum appears
IN sestertius OF Vespasian. The coins
II Trajan are notable for their architec-
ural delineations. Hadrian's coins COM
his journeys. The coins and
medals Of Antonine, Marcus surelius, and
he two Fanstinae are well executed, and
here is 4 remarkable medallion of Com
nodus relating to the conquest of Britain |
There are many other specimens of the
lassic period, which make the collection
n this regard alone of great interest and
'aiue.
In Shooting Galleries.
Urom Forest and stream)
One hears some good stories in the Bow !
ry shooting galleries when business is
lack. Here is one Oklahoma Bill rpDeats | I