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original theory against certain objections raised by Willers in his contribution to Corolla Numismatica. But, polemic altogether apart, it is an exceptionally illuminating and suggestive addition to our knowledge of the metrology of the whole Italian peninsula. Something depends upon the authenticity of a piece regarding whose genuineness experts are by no means agreed; since Haeberlin's paper was given to the public, so good a judge as Bahrfeldt has definitely ranged himself on the side of the doubters. Again, not a little hinges on the precise weights of the aes grave, a class of coins where the limits of fluctuation are of necessity dangerously wide. These are the considerations that make one hesitate before accepting whole-heartedly the conclusions reached through a singularly acute and well-articulated process of reasoning. Even after such reservations have had their full effect, however, there is much left that the metrologist will find of high value. The points are too technical to be of general interest. But it may be mentioned that they include a rational explanation of the puzzling value-marks on the earlier and later coins of Etruria, a fruitful theory as to the origin of the Roman scripulum, and an instructive sketch of the history of the victoriatus.

A special feature of the year has been the comparatively large number of important 'finds' that have been properly chronicled. That from Ephesus has been spoken of already. The others have come from various quarters. Thus Loebbecke has given a careful account of an interesting hoard discovered at Caserta, near Naples, in the winter of 1889-90.1 It consisted of 499 pieces, of which no fewer than 322 were triobols of the Achaean League. The date of burial would seem to have been about 146 B.C., and it is suggested that the owner may have been some Italian soldier returning home at the conclusion of the war. Similarly, Svoronos has printed a useful list of 945 silver coins taken out of the sea fifteen years ago off the coast of Epidaurus. It comprises mainly Macedonian regal pieces, but there are also 130 1 Z.f. N. xxvi. pp. 275 ff. 2 Journ. Intern. 1907, pp. 35 ff.

Athenian tetradrachms, a few Seleucid coins, and some of the Ptolemies. Two Roman hoards from Germany have been excellently catalogued by Regling. The first, which came to light in Posen, included 215 denarii, ranging from Nero to Marcus, the latest being of 166 A.D.1 While all alike were equally worn, there were only eleven of the time of Pius and Marcus, as against forty-nine of the reign of Hadrian, and seventy-five of Trajan. This proportion is remarkable. As a rule, in such hoards, the latest emperors are best represented, and their coins best preserved. The second of the two finds handled by Regling-and handled, it should be added, with praiseworthy promptitude and thoroughness was made at Dortmund in August 1907.2 It consisted of 430 aurei, ranging from Constantine I. to Constantine III. and including some exceedingly curious barbarous imitations, as well as sixteen silver pieces, all of which were of the nature of barbarous imitations. It constitutes the largest hoard of the kind ever discovered in Germany, and was probably buried soon after 408 A.D. The soil of Albania has yielded up a deposit of about 1400 denarii; from Kubitschek's full and clear account we learn that a very few were Republican, while the remainder covered the period between the reign of the Flavian dynasty and that of Philip the Arabian.3 The most numerously represented emperors were Severus and his family (480) specimens), Gordian III. (323 specimens), and Elagabalus and Severus Alexander (284 specimens). Britain, too, has contributed its quota. It is true that the reputed discoveries of Greek coins at Exeter, which caused a sensation among Devonshire antiquaries in the early part of last century, have been pretty conclusively shown to have involved fraud.4 But 281 Roman bronze pieces from Croydon have been discussed by Mr F. A. Walters, 117

1Z. f. N. xxvi. pp. 304 ff.

2 Der Dortmunder Fund römischer Goldmünzen, pp. 39, with 3 plates, Dortmund, 1908; 1 m. 60 pf. (1s. 8d.).

3 Num. Zeit. 1908, pp. 37 ff.

+ Num. Chron. 1907, pp. 145 ff.

being 'first brass' and the rest 'second.' They extend from the reign of Claudius to that of Pius, and among them are examples of all the intervening emperors save Galba, Otho, and Vitellius. The great majority belong to the reigns of Trajan and of Hadrian. It is noteworthy that of the asses' with the head of Pius, of which there are twentyfive, as many as twenty have the familiar Britannia type on the reverse, the whole of them being from different dies. The suggestion that these pieces were minted on this side of the English Channel is attractive, but hardly probable. Lastly, we are indebted to Mr Bernard Roth for a good description of a large hoard of coins of the Brigantes, from S. Ferriby, in Lincolnshire, extremely important for Early British numismatics.2

One cannot speak of Early British numismatics without recalling instinctively the loss that the circle of those interested in the study of ancient coins has sustained through the death of Sir John Evans. It is in his Coins of the Ancient Britons that his most abiding monument as a numismatist will be found. But his numismatic sympathies were, like his knowledge, extraordinarily wide. His own collection of Roman gold was rich in all that is choice and rare. Since he died, there has appeared a brief paper from his pen, describing some of the unpublished varieties it contained.3 This is one of the last of the long series of contributions which he made to the Proceedings of the Royal Numismatic Society of London, of which he had been a member for close upon sixty years, and the guiding spirit for more than forty. It would not be easy to exaggerate the extent of the influence which his personality has exercised in and through the Society. In particular, the friendly encouragement which he invariably afforded to beginners, must often have proved the stimulus that resulted in solid achievement. The same happy quality has always been conspicuous in Dr Imhoof-Blumer, the occurrence of whose 1 Num. Chron. 1907, pp. 353 ff.

2 Ibid. 1908, pp. 17 ff.

3 Ibid. 1908, pp. 85 ff.

seventieth birthday has just been made the occasion of presenting him with a medal bearing his own portrait. The list of subscribers furnishes pleasant testimony of the universality of the esteem in which the doyen of European numismatists is so deservedly held.

GEORGE MACDONALD.

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