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

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32 PROCEEDINGS OF THEcoin that has been mentioned tends to support this view, itbeing <strong>of</strong> good silver <strong>and</strong> struck under Carausius. This coin isin fine condition <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> interesting EXPECTATE YENItype. Mr. Grueber suggests that <strong>the</strong> figure welcoming <strong>the</strong>emperor is not, as commonly described, that <strong>of</strong> Britain, butra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>of</strong> Fides Militum. <strong>The</strong> object she holds is a vexillum,<strong>and</strong> not a trident, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> two figuresclosely accord with thoseon one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> silver coins <strong>of</strong> Carausius with <strong>the</strong> legend,FIDE. MI.AV. in my own collection.<strong>The</strong> interpretation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> exergual letters R S R has long beena puzzle to numismatists.<strong>The</strong>y occur on <strong>the</strong> great majority <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> silver coins <strong>of</strong> Carausius, but also on a certain number <strong>of</strong> hiscopper coins.<strong>The</strong>se, however, are in <strong>the</strong> main <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same typesas those in silver, so that it is possible that <strong>the</strong>y were originallyplated. <strong>The</strong> letters have usually been regarded as in somemanner denoting <strong>the</strong> place <strong>of</strong> mintage, which was in all probabilityRutupiae. or Richborough, <strong>and</strong> Mr. Grueber suggestsRutupiae Stativa, or Static Romana, as <strong>the</strong>ir extended form.I am tempted to hazard ano<strong>the</strong>r interpretation. Mr. Grueberhas pointed out that <strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se coins <strong>of</strong> comparativelyfine silver was an absolute anomaly, as in no o<strong>the</strong>r part<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>Roman Empire were coins <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same st<strong>and</strong>ard <strong>of</strong> metal ordenomination that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old Roman denarius at that timestruck. It is probable, <strong>the</strong>refore, that <strong>the</strong> coins <strong>of</strong> this new issuehad some distinctive name or designation.Now, perhaps <strong>the</strong> mostcommon <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> types <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se denarii is <strong>the</strong> wolf <strong>and</strong> twins,with <strong>the</strong> legendin various more or less contracted or invertedforms, ROMANORVM RENOVATIO. Can this be held to referto <strong>the</strong> renewal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> old Roman coinage ;denarius by any<strong>and</strong> if so, was <strong>the</strong> newchance known as <strong>the</strong> Romanus ? In <strong>the</strong>twelfth century we find certain gold coins known as Romanati,<strong>and</strong> if eight centuries earlier a similar habit <strong>of</strong> thought prevailed,<strong>the</strong> letters R.S.R. may signify (nummus) RomanusSignatus Rutupiis. This conjecture must be taken for whatit is worth, but all who study Mr. Grueber's paper will feel

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