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The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

The numismatic chronicle and journal of the Royal ... - IndianCoins.org

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'318 MISCELLANEA.belong to <strong>the</strong> cast series <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> now well-known Hengistburytype. 1It will be observed that Dr. Smith's analysis agrees fairlywell with that <strong>of</strong> two (a <strong>and</strong> d) <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> similar coinsanalysed by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Gowl<strong>and</strong>, whose table <strong>of</strong> four analysesI reproduce from p. 75 <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Hengistbury Report.a b c d'.Copper. , . 73.06 71-66 85-00 76-0Tin . . . . 11-02 17.41 2-26 11-7Lead .... 7-78 0-37 9-6Silver 1-31100.00 100-00 100-00 100-00Pr<strong>of</strong>. Gowl<strong>and</strong> remarks that " <strong>the</strong> coins, with <strong>the</strong> exception<strong>of</strong> a <strong>and</strong> d, are extremely variable in <strong>the</strong> proportions <strong>of</strong>copper, tin, <strong>and</strong> lead <strong>the</strong>y contain. A coin <strong>of</strong> Augustus <strong>and</strong>Agrippa . . . has <strong>the</strong> following composition :Copper .... 78-45Tin 12-96Lead .... 8-62It hence resembles a <strong>and</strong> d, but I do not think <strong>the</strong>yhave been obtained by melting <strong>the</strong>se Eoman coins." Bu<strong>the</strong> does not give his reason for doubting this o<strong>the</strong>rwise veryprobable view <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir origin.<strong>The</strong> coins described by Dr. Smith under C belonged toa class usually regarded as struck coins, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> usual Southwesterntype. It will be observed that <strong>the</strong> specimenanalysed contained no lead. It would be interesting toknow whe<strong>the</strong>r analyses <strong>of</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r specimens confirm this ;naturally one would expect <strong>the</strong> earlier coins to be purerthan <strong>the</strong> later. A reference to J. Hammer's tables 2 seemsto show that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Koman struck coins containtin in large proportions, although it was usually helped outby a slight admixture <strong>of</strong> lead. In <strong>the</strong> present condition <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> coins from Hengistbury,it is impossible to say that some<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m may not have been made by casting, although <strong>the</strong>original British coins <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> type were always struck.G. F. H.1Society <strong>of</strong> Antiquaries <strong>of</strong> London, Reports <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ResearchCommittee, No. Ill, pp. 64 ff.

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