THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

TERMINOLOGY
reign of Charles VI. (1380-1422) by the substitution of
three Us for the chatel. A double circle also occurs on
a Southwark penny of Henry I. of England.
Cistophoros—A silver coin of ancient Greece, struck
by several cities in alliance, and by the Romans after
the conquest of Greece, exhibiting a common type, the
mystic cista or basket, from which a serpent escapes,
a symbol significant of the widely prevailing worship of
Bacchus in Asia. These interesting pieces are common,
having been struck in very large numbers from about
200 B.C. to about 48 B.C. It was a species of federal
currency, and long formed, with the Attic tetradrachm
and the gold Macedonian stater, the staple medium.
Clipped, Pr. rogne—A term applied to coins of
which the edges have been trimmed for the sake of
the metal or otherwise. The guinea of George III. of
Great Britain was struck with the legend so arranged
as to prevent this abuse. But the appearance of having
been clipped is often communicated to old coins by the
original insufficiency of the flan.
Comecratio—A common type and legend on the
Roman gold, silver, and brass money, referring to the
favourite usage of paying divine honours to deceased or
living rulers. The idea proceeded from the desire of
the reigning dvnasty to strengthen itself by identifica-
tion with supposed deified predecessors and kinsfolk.
Where there are busts, they are usually veiled.
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