THE COIN COLLECTOR - World eBook Library

THE COLLECTOR SERIES
Low Countries and in France during- the sixth, seventh,
and eighth centuries, and actually originating in Hol-
land. The most important and valuable examples,
nevertheless, are those struck on French ground, with
the portraits of the Merovingian dynasty.
Merovingian Period (comp. Gaul)—The gold and
silver coinages current in Gaul or France from the
sixth to the eighth centuries were of totally distinct
character. The former, so far as it belongs to that
country, was of regal origin, and was struck within
the precincts of the palace by the moneyer of the
sovereign. At Paris, under Dagobert I. and some of
his successors, Eligius or Eloy superintended the
operations of the mint, and the pieces variously pre-
sent the names of the ruler, the mint-master, and the
place. Some exhibit for the first time the words
Moneta Palati. We have perhaps still to learn the
circumstances under which the silver saigas of thick
fabric, of which so many occurred in the trouvaille of
Cimiez, were issued at Aries and other points, with the
monograms of individuals (Anterior, Nemphidius, &c.)
on the one side, and that of the source of production
on the other.
Metrology—The law or system governing the ori-
ginal utterance of the ancient Greek money, and of
that struck by Rome in the consular or republican
period, and determining the allocation of coins as to
date and origin, where other guides may fail.
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