To illustrate this number, we have the use of one of the two plates prepared by Mr. W. E. Woodward for the coming sale of the Jenks collection. It contains so many fine and interesting ancient coins, that we are very glad to be allowed to offer it to our readers.*

4 is a very good specimen of the coinage of Messina, somewhat similar to those illustrated in the Journal for April, 1878.

5 is of Gelas, and the same remark may be made.

6 is the usual type of coins of Thasus.

15 is a capital specimen of the coinage of Side, nearly resembling that illustrated in the Journal for July, 1879.

36 and 37 are really beautiful examples of the Ptolemaic money of Egypt; it is to be noted of both, as appears from the plate, that the head is not diademed, but filleted.

63, 64, 65, 66 and 69 are very fine specimens of the coins of the Seleucid Kings of Syria.

75 and 76 are fully described in Mr. Woodward's catalogue, and have every appearance of being a genuine shekel and half-shekel.

93, 95 and 97 are three examples of the coinage of Macedon, showing very different and well known types.

114 is a good specimen of the Persian daric.

116 is an admirable example of the curious coinage of Sybaris, known and well described as incused.

132, 144, 157, 159, 161, 172, 180, 194, 201, 233, 284 and 310 are specimens of the large series known as Roman Family Coins. They are generally well described in Mr. Woodward's catalogue; the study of the legends illustrated on them is very interesting, but we are far from having the time to undertake it now.

311 is a fine example of the denarius struck by the son of Pompey the Great.

315 is a beautiful specimen of the gold of the Emperor Augustus of a well known type.

*The Sale takes place early in the present month. The numbers refer to the Catalogue, but the pieces will be readily distinguished.

VOL. XV.

7

319 is a very fine coin of the time of Augustus, which Cohen indefinitely says was struck in Asia.

329 is a capital specimen of the copper coinage for the colony of Nimes. 437 is a beautiful example of the earlier gold of Marcus Aurelius.

468 demands longer and fuller notice. Obv. IMP. CAES. C. PESC. NIGER IVSTVS AVG; head of Pescennius Niger to right, laureled. Rev. CONCORDIA ; Concord standing to left, in right hand? ear of wheat, in left double horn of plenty; in field P P. Gold.

"It is well known that a gold coin of Pescennius Niger was for a long time one of the treasures in the cabinet of the King of France, and that the coin was stolen many years ago, the general opinion being that it went to the crucible. The suggestion is presented of the possibility that such was not the fate of the piece in question, but that, saved from destruction, it here appears again. The owner of the piece is able to trace it in responsible hands for more than thirty years, which period carries us well back towards the time of the robbery alluded to. In brief, the story is this:-Mr. Connor was, for many years prior to 1870, an owner and manager of real estate in the city of Boston. About 1850 he had in some of his houses quite a colony of Italians. The rent falling due, one of his Italian tenants was unable to meet it, and placed in Mr. Connor's hands this coin as security, exacting a promise that it should be kept and returned to him, stating that he prized it highly because it was a gift to him from a nobleman whom he knew in Italy, and who had presented it to him a long time before he left his native country. Not being redeemed, the coin was retained by Mr. Connor until his death, which occurred a few years ago, when it was inherited by his son, who having no appreciation of its value, though perfectly aware of its great rarity, pierced it and wore it for a watch charm till last year, when it was sold to me."

In these words quoted from the catalogue, Mr. Woodward does certainly make a very good statement in favor of the supposition that this is the unique coin stolen from the Royal Cabinet of France; and of course no one is likely to be able to prove that all the coins then taken were melted. The piece agrees perfectly with the description given by Cohen. It must be stated, however, that a counterfeit of it was made by Becker, the famous German forger, but Mr. Woodward's has not the appearance of being of his work.

667 is an admirable specimen of the gold of the time of Anastasius.

ROMAN FAMILY COINS.

No series of ancient coins is more interesting than those known as "Consular" or "Family" coins, fascinating the student with the light they throw upon the history of the celebrated families of Republican Rome. I give a list of the most desirable works. Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology is indispensable; Vaillant's Nummi Antiqui Familiarum Romanarum, 1703, 2 vols., folio, is an excellent work, with 152 fine plates, and will cost $6. Next is Morelli, Thesaurus Morelianus, with a commentary by Havercamp, 1734, 2 vols., folio, with many plates, and worth about $10. An Italian work by Riccio, Le Monete delle Antiche Famiglie di Roma, 1843, 4to., with 72 plates, is very highly praised, and may be obtained for $11. The next is a very rare and valuable work, Cohen's Description Generale des Monnaies de la Republique Romaine, 1857, 4to., with 75 plates, and would perhaps cost $50. The Dictionnaire Numismatique, by Alex.

Boutkowski, now in course of publication, contains descriptions of many family coins. I notice that the writers for Smith's Dictionary always refer to Eckhel, I presume his Doctrina Nummorum Veterum, 8 vols., and addenda, 1792-1826, 4to. I know nothing of this work, except that it is quite scarce, and priced at $40.

I give descriptions of a few denarii of the

ÆMILIA GENS,

one of the most ancient patrician houses at Rome. Its origin is referred to the time of Numa, and it is said to have descended from Mamercus, who received the name of Æmilius on account of the persuasiveness of his language. The family names which occur on coins are Buca, Lepidus, Paulus, and Scaurus. Vaillant describes 56 coins of this gens.

Vaillant No. 9; Bout. No. 261. PAVLVS LEPIDVS CONCORDIA Diademed and veiled head of Concordia to right. Rev. TER PAVLLVS Paulus Æmilius attaching trophies to the trunk of a tree; to the left, Perseus, King of Macedonia, with his hands tied behind him, and his two sons, Philip and Alexander. This and all the following are given by Boutkowski among the coins of Marcus Æmilius Lepidus, triumvir with Mark Antony and Octavius, B. C. 44. The reverse refers to the triumph of the celebrated L. Æmilius over Perseus. He was the most distinguished member of his family, and was born about 230 B. C., was Consul B. C. 182 and 168, and in the latter year conquered Macedonia. He returned to Italy and celebrated his triumph the last of November, B. C. 167. It lasted three days and was the most splendid triumph Rome had ever seen. The word TER, according to Vaillant, refers to the third triumph of Paulus Æmilius, and he quotes in proof the following inscription from an ancient marble:

L. AEMILIVS. L. F. PAVLLVS. COS II. CENS. AVGVR. TRIUMPHAVIT TER.

But Boutkowski says that it cannot refer to the third triumph of Paulus, “a triumph, which, unfortunately, is not mentioned by any of the ancient classical writers, such as Plutarch, Livy, or Aurelius Victor, who only mention two. In consequence, this legend is very embarrassing to explain, the more so, that it is in contradiction of historical facts." It may refer to his triumph lasting three days. Vaillant refers this coin to L. Æmilius Paulus, whom he supposes to be the adopted brother of the triumvir, and says that the head of the goddess Concordia was chosen by him in order to denote the concord existing between them. This "concord" business seems to me rather doubtful.

In B. C. 44 Paulus joined the senatorial party, and he was one of the senators who declared M. Lepidus a public enemy, on account of his having joined Antony; and accordingly, when the triumvirate was formed, his name was set down first in the proscription list by his brother. The soldiers who were appointed to kill him allowed him to escape, probably with the connivance of his brother. It is upon this escape that Vaillant claims the "concord." Smith, however, says that he was own brother of the triumvir, and that the name Paulus was probably given him by his father in honor of the conqueror of Macedonia, and thinks that the coin has reference to his son, Paulus Æmilius Lepidus, who was Consul B. C. 34 and Censor B. C. 22.

Vaillant No. 21; Bout. No. 256. ROMA. Laureated and diademed head of Venus to right; back of the head a star. Rev. M' AEMILIO. Equestrian