30.07.2015 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

MISCELLANEA.A TWELFTH-CENTURY FIND.THE following record, thoughit concerns a trifling matter, is<strong>of</strong> some <strong>numismatic</strong> interest ;<strong>and</strong> thoughit does not hereappear in print for <strong>the</strong> first time, has probably met <strong>the</strong> eyes<strong>of</strong> few numismatists :"De portu Dovrensi juvenis Curbarannus, arte sutoriavictus sibi necessaria quaerens, mira quadam et mera simplicitatepro sancti martyris anima orafcionem Dominicamquotidie dicere solebat, nesciens quod injuriam martyri faciatqui pro martyre orat. Absque intermissione id agenti dignatusest se sanctus in somnis ostendere, dicens, Curbaraiine,''dormis, an vigilas?Vigilare se pr<strong>of</strong>itenti, molendino quodamei designate, sic rursus intulib, ' 'Scis molendinum illud ? Etjuvenis, 'Scio, domine; tu quis es?' 'Ego sum,' inquit,*Thomas Cantuariensis archiepiscopus ;vade ad molendinumpraefatum et suine quod ibi sub sambuco reperies ; jus turnenim est ut saltern in aliquo devotionis tuae servitium tibirependam.' At ille diluculo consurgens, juxta illud praeceptumDominicum, 'Primum quaerite regnum Dei et justitiamejus,' ad ecclesiam oraturus pr<strong>of</strong>iciscitur. Inde regrediens,ad memoriam visione reducta, divertit ad molendinum ;statimque sub sambuco praetaxato denarium spissitudinisplurimae reperit aeruginatum, quern vel aurichalceum aestimansvel cupreum cum ostendisset, alius eo longe astutiordentibus attrectatum aureum esse deprehendit. Diligenterigitur a rubigine emundatus imaginem et superscriptionernDiocletiani Augusti comperitur habere ; pretium ejus argenteisquadraginta praestare non ambigitur erat enim de auro;primo et purissimo, appendens argenteos quinque."From <strong>the</strong> Miracula Sancti Thomae, by Benedict <strong>of</strong> Peterborough,ed. by J. C. Robertson (Materials for tlie History <strong>of</strong>Thomas Becket, ii.), p.1 56. Benedict became Prior <strong>of</strong> ChristChurch, Canterbury, in 1175, <strong>and</strong> Abbot <strong>of</strong> Peterborough in1177 ;he died 1193 or 1194. Since <strong>the</strong> silver penny <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>time weighed normally about 22 grains, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> aurei <strong>of</strong>Diocletian rarely exceed 90 grains, <strong>the</strong> coin found must havebeen an exceptional one or <strong>the</strong> pennies used as weights lightspecimens.G. F. H.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!