The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

466 SIR ARTHUR EVANS.
It will be seen from this Table that the average
weight of the siliqua from the time of Constantius II
to Arcadius here works out at about 1-93 grammes, 38
while the maximum weight varies from 2-10 to
2-60 grammes. But the coinage of Honorius as ex-
emplified by well-preserved specimens from this hoard
shows a distinct falling off the average being only
1-30 grammes and the maximum 1-60 grammes.
It is further noteworthy that the earliest series of
coins belonging to Constantius II and Julian, though
slightly worn in comparison with the others, are quite
on a level with them in weight. Indeed, it looks as if
a set of finely preserved siliquae of Constantius II
would yield an average weight of quite 2 grammes.
The results regarding the minimum of weight in the
different series are not of the same value as those that
give the average or the maximum. 39 With coins of
abnormally low weight the wear or oxidization of the
surface, fractures, and insidious forms of clipping and
sweating, generally play a determining part,
so that
38 Thus closely approaching the average of the Grovely Wood
specimens, 1-909 grammes (Hill, Num. Chron., 1906, p. 342). The
siliquae of the Danubian Hoard, described by Missong (" Fund
romischer Siliquen aus den Jahren 360-367 n. Chr. Geb.," in Wiener
XumisniatiscJie Monatshefte, 1868), had an average weight of
1-838 grammes.
39
Omitting some obviously defective coins the minimum results
in the case of various samples of the present hoard were as follows :
Constantius II, 20 coins weighed; 2 under 1-8 grin., minimum
1-6 grm. Julian, 100 weighed; 8 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-6 grin.
Valentinian I, 20 weighed ; 2 under 1-8 grin., one 1-6 grm. Valens,
100 weighed ; 13 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-55 grm. Gratian, 20
weighed ; 3 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-5 grm. Valentinian II, 20
weighed ; 1 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-75 grm. Mag. Maximus,
50 weighed ; 8 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-45 grm. Theodosius I,
20 weighed ; 2 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-05 grm. Arcadius, 5 weighed;
1 under 1-8 grm., min. 1-11 grm.