ANCIENT METHODS OF STRIKING COINS.

In the last number of the Journal we gave a translation from a recent number of Revue Belge de Numismatique, of an interesting paper by Mons. V. Lemaire, of Gand, on the methods used by the ancients in preparing the dies from which their coins were struck; from the interest in the subject shown in letters received by the Editors, we feel justified in presenting a translation of the concluding portion of the same paper, treating of the methods employed for striking the coins, after the dies had been prepared; and without further preface, we print below Mons. Lemaire's theories on this important branch of the subject; we have endeavored to give his views as closely as possible, while not attempting to confine ourselves to an exact literal translation.

Let us now consider the striking. This we know was done with a hammer (marteau). Here we remark, that while it was easy to strike coins in this way, which bore a device on one side only, it was a much more difficult task to do this when it became necessary to strike both sides at a single impression. The artists in charge of minting money were fortunate in finding some efficacious mechanical method of readily placing the dies opposite each other, in proper position. The place by which the planchet was held in a tool resembling the modern forceps (L'espèce de pince) which we have noticed on dies in the Musée Monétaire at Paris, at a time when the collection of dies was more accessible to the public than at present, gives us an idea of the methods in use— methods indeed very elementary. A tool of this kind does not allow an exact adjustment, in consequence of the play of its hinge, and its long arms; yet it could place the planchet with a fair degree of accuracy so far as the front and back edges of the coin are concerned; sidewise, however, there would inevitably be considerable variation. It required much more perfect instruments for striking the thick money (fourrée). For this, the dies must be placed with great exactness opposite each other; instruments which would accomplish this by sliding (glissement) are alone able to give the precision so absolutely indispensable. The "collar” used in modern mints is the simplest and surest means of regulating this matter, but antiquity did not know all the methods which we employ. If we con