The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal Numismatic Society

478 SIR ARTHUR EVANS.
small silver pieces contained in the present hoard and of
the comparisons to which they lead lies in the evidence
thus afforded that the half-siliqua issues go back to
the time of Gratian. They were doubtless, however,
of a limited kind, and may have been of a " sportulary "
class, recalling our "Maundy money". They were
useful, it seems, for Charon's toll. From the beginning
of the fifth century, however, these halves or other
fractions of the siliqua became the ordinary silver
currency, though here again we must remember that,
as in the case of Honorius's silver issues, a certain
proportion of these coins were intended for siliquae,
though much debased in weight.
6. INDICATIONS OF A REVIVAL OF THE LONDON
MINT BY VALENTINIA'N I.
The Eoman mint at London was first opened by
Carausius and maintained by Allectus, both Emperors
using it for gold as well as inferior metal. By
Diocletian and his colleagues C1 it was confined to the
issue of bronze pieces, as well as by Constantine and
his family. 62 In A.D. 326 the mint of London, like
that of many other cities, was closed by Constantine.
It was not allowed, moreover, like many other mints,
to enjoy a period of renewed activity from 333 to 337.
below an average of about 2 grin., that in identifying fractions of
a siliqua the only safe rule seems to be to make it a condition that
an exceptionally low weight should be accompanied by an exceptionally
small module, so that the bulk of these pieces can be
recognized by eye.
61 On the London coins of Diocletian without mint-mark see
De Salis, "Roman Coins struck in Britain," NUM. Chron., 1867, p. 58.
62 See on this J. Maurice, Nnmismatique Constantinienne, ii,
pp. 1 seqq.