W. C a r e w H a z l i t t Coinage of the European Continent

Introduction 65
commercial detail ; they have been drawn up in the alphabetical
form, with cross-references, to economise time and trouble.
As for the remaining section, it may be predicated of it that
the body is in this case not much more than equal to each of
its component parts for all that seemed to be
; left, when the
rest had been done, was to present, according to geographical
distribution, an outline of European numismatic production,
and to knit the whole together, as it
were, with a tolerably
copious General Index.
That the earliest attempt on these broad lines will be
found imperfect, can hardly be doubted ;
but its utility may
nevertheless prove considerable, since it embodies in a
convenient and accessible compass a very large assortment
of particulars indispensable to the English and American
collectors of the continental series. To the majority of
these two classes of students the voluminous works of
reference in foreign languages, which form in themselves a
sort of library, are sealed literature, alike from their obscurity,
bulk, and cost. Here the means are readily furnished of
enabling the ordinary collector to satisfy himself what
constitutes a fairly complete, or at any rate representative,
series in the several departments, what the leading denominations,
types, and varieties are, and what rarities, or pieces
historically or otherwise curious, exist. Occasional anecdotes
and illustrations have been inserted where it was thought
that they might be of interest or service and the writer has
;
now and then permitted himself to enter into particulars of
price. But the question of price and value is one of great
delicacy and difficulty for condition and circumstances rule
;
everything, and the selling figure of one coin is no law for
that of another.
To the professed and advanced antiquary language
is no
bar ;
and those who do not care to bestow the time requisite
for mastering the almost innumerable monographs of the
several European countries, and a formidable supplementary
body of pamphlets illustrative of local and sectional details
perpetually arising, have the opportunity of resorting to the
admirable Manual of M. Blanchet, 1890. This work is,
F