The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

464 SIR ARTHUR EVANS.
the siliquae. Both classes seem to have sprung into
existence about the same time. It is interesting to
note, moreover, that the first mention of siliquae also
occurs in a " sportulary " connexion. An inscription
found at Feltre (Feltria), in Venetia, in 1907, shows
that the siliqua was already used for public distri-
butions as early at least as A.D. 323, the date of this
lapidary record. 35 The inscription gives the terms
of a legacy of 500,000 denarii, the interest accruing
from which was to be distributed as sportulae to the
municipal authorities and the " Collegia Fabrum et
Centonariorum " at the feasts held in memory of the
benefactor, on the anniversary of his birthday and
at the time of the Rosalia. Aurei, siliquae, and nummi
are here named as the coins to be used in these
distributions.
The copious issue of siliquae as ordinary current
coin does not seem to have taken place earlier than
about 340, when Constantius II would have celebrated
his Quinqueiinalia, referred to on some of these pieces.
But we have other evidence besides the lately dis-
covered inscription that siliquae of very full weight,
35 " Severe et Rufino Consulibus." The inscription was published
by Gherardini (Notiziedegli Scavi, 1907, pp. 431-7) and by Lorenzina
Cesano (Rendiconti della r. Accad. del Lincei, 1908, pp. 237-56), who
called attention to the first mention of the siliqua. The whole
subject has been rediscussed by W. Kubitschek (NumismatiacJut
Zeitschr., xlii, pp. 52 seqq.). He read the last part of the inscription
MM VIR(IS) ET SEX PRINC(IPALIBVS)
ET OFF(ICIO) PVB(LICO) SPOR(TVLARVM)
NO(MINE) AVREOS DEN(OS) ET SIL(IQVAS)
SINC(VLAS) NEICNON ET PER ROS(AM) AT
MEMOR(IAM) EIVS REFRICERAR(I) DEVEB(VNT)
N(VMMIS) CCCLXII.