The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

KOYAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY. 37
to offer any alternative explanation. He suggests, however,
that "a parallel for this temporizing use of a meaningless
inscription may be found in the Danish coinage of 1044-7,
the period of the struggle of Magnus and Svvein ". and adds
that "some coins of this period are figured and described by
Hauberg (Myntforliold og Udmyntninger I DanmarJc, p. 49,
and pi. viii. figs. 1-7) which bear the unintelligible name
IOANST with the title REX".
Although it is with great diffidence that I myself venture
on the field of English numismatics, I cannot help suggest-
no doubt in-
ing that the inscription PERERIC, though
tentionally used for the deliberate purpose of non-committal,
must have been based on some generally known legend.
If not IMPERATRICIS, which seems too wide of the
mark and for other reasons inacceptable, surely the obvious
suggestion might
be considered that it is founded on a
slight variation of the IlENRIC which forms part
of the
obverse legend on the coinage of Henry I ? The parallel
with the Danish piece reading IOANST is certainly of
value. But here, too, it does not seem impossible to suggest
an obvious original. On the same plate of Hauberg's work
there is engraved a contemporary Danish imitation of
a Byzantine type in which the first letters of the name
clearly appear as IO. It seems probable, therefore, that
the IOAN of the legend was suggested by some coin of
a Byzantine Emperor, such as John Zimisces. The Byzan-
tine influence on Denmark at this period is in fact illus-
trated by a series of types.
Our Medallist, Mr. Hill, in his investigations on the
technique of Simon de Passe, has given conclusive reasons
for believing that the plaques of this artist were in each
case separately engraved, as suggested by Sir Sidney Colvin
in his work on Early Engravers and Engraving in England.
The repetitions of this design were in fact produced " not
by any form of stamping but by the everyday method