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THE MINT OF LUGDUNUM. 75One feels that at best they are but imitations of theaurei and denarii, executed by inferior engravers.Thus it appears improbable that the earlier examplesof the Altar series [Class I] were products of the imperialmint.Some light seems to be thrown on the questionincidentally by a suggestion made by M. Mowat, tothe effect that the type of the Altar of Lugdunumpossesse4 an autonomous significance. 19 There is nodoubt that in itself the altar was quite as much a tribalmonument of the Tres Galliae as it was a tribute toRoma and Augustus. The adoption and perpetuationof this type to the exclusion of all others may, therefore,be regarded as evidence that the mint at which thesecoins were struck was to some extent of an autonomouscharacter. It mayin fact have been a revival of theancient provincial mint, such as that which issuedbronze coins about a quarter of a century previously.A distinct change of style takes place after the year2 B. c. [Class II].The obverse legends are circular, thelettering is more regular, and the style of portraitcorresponds closely with that of the imperial goldand silver. This change is clearly not merely artisticbut constitutional ;that is to say, the brass and copperafter 2 B.C. were undoubtedly struck by the imperialmint, with which the provincial mint had by this timebecome incorporated.The institution of an imperial brass and copperas one of thecoinage at Lugdunum may be regardedmost remarkable and important experiments in themonetary system of the Empire undertaken by Augustus.In fact, it is probably true to say that the ultimate19 Revue Num., 1895, pp. 160 ff.