The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

240 G. F. HILL.
clear ;
on the British Museum specimen the border line
cuts right through the signature. Possibly, however,
that is a case of the border line being added subse-
quently. In the Prince Charles on horseback, distinct
differences are perceptible in the hoof of the horse's
near hind leg on the specimens in the two Museums. In
the Infanta Maria, the final e of Spaine on the reverse
has a much longer tail on one than on the other
specimen. With search, one can easily find other
but they are often slight, and it
tangible differences ;
is arguable that they are due to retouching, however
the pieces were reproduced. Such a case of retouching is
clearly apparent on the obverse of the PrinceCharlesjust
mentioned, if we compare the British Museum specimen
with Mr. Maurice Ecsenheim's. The lines defining
the columns on the right, and the diamond panes of
the window, appear quite different ;
and close examin-
ation shows that on the Museum specimen this portion
has been re-engraved. In going over the lines of the
window-panes the engraver has here and there gone to
one side of the old lines. I confess that, although
I think the probabilities are vastly in favour of the
theory supported by Sir Sidney Colvin, this fact at
first gave me pause. Why did this specimen fail in
just this place, and have to be touched up ? Why do
the old lines, where they remain beside the new ones,
look so dull ? If the plaques were produced by stamp-
ing with a die which had failed just there, or by
casting from a faulty impression, one could understand
this. But a medal did not seem likely to become worn
just in one place, which projected no more than any
other. Mr. Littlejohn, however, has pointed out that
the place where the original surface became worn and