The "athletes" who were triumphant in the sports of the arena, received crowns, a specimen of which is shown upon a coin of Nero.

Of all crowns, the most famous and the most ancient was the diadem. This, according to Gûsseme, was a band of purple and fine linen of about the width of three or four fingers, which kings wore around their foreheads, and whose ends tied in a flowing knot behind, hung loosely down on the back of the neck. Alexander the Great is said to have staunched with his diadem the blood flowing from a wound which he had inflicted on Lysimachus.

According to Pancirollus, (ed. 1715, ch. xi. p. 192,) the diadem was "a little cap, like one half of an hand ball of the bigger size, which, being put upon the head, was bound about with a white swathe. Both kings and emperors wore them for ornament; our crowns on coins do not a little resemble them." It was the simple, but superlatively distinctive badge of kingly power. From the earliest to the latest ages of the coinage issued by the monarchs of the various Grecian States, it will always be found upon their portraits, and wherever found the emblem is the sure and certain sign of a prince or of a god.

Some monarchs were in the habit of wearing diadems as many in number as were the kingdoms over which they ruled a custom whence, no doubt, arose the triple tiara of the Pope, symbolizing his dominion over earth, heaven, and hell. Ptolemy Philadelphus, according to Josephus, wore two diadems, one for his dominions in Asia, another for Egypt; the same was asserted of one of the Parthian kings.

Among the Oriental potentates it was a frequent custom to braid the hair and beard, and ornament them with precious stones, as we see to this day in the Assyrian sculptures, and on the coins of the Arsacidae, whose heads additionally were bound around with a sort of a wide sash embroidered with pearls, etc., from which broad lappets, similarly ornamented, fell over the neck and ears.

The kings of Armenia are shown on their coins wearing the tiara, a well-known symbol of absolute sovereignty among the nations of the Orient. Juba of Numidia wears a remarkable sort of a conical cap, hung around with pearls in rows, one above the other.

After Julius Caesar, the laurel crown was generally adopted by the Roman emperors, the right to wear which was given him by the Senate, and subsequently accorded to his successors.

Upon examination of a cabinet of coins of the Roman emperors, we can trace the successive changes in the style of wearing the hair and the manner of head-dress. Upon the coinage of Augustus we find the hair plain; those struck upon his deification bear the radiated crown, the emblem of divinity, whose origin, no doubt, was due to the influence of solar worship. It was given to the deceased monarchs to show that they had taken rank as gods, not to any of their merits as a sovereign. Tiberius, Caligula, and Claudius are represented on their coins as wearing a band tied behind with a falling ribbon. Some of the coins of Caligula, issued by the Greek cities, bore the radiated crown. Nero is said to have assumed in his lifetime the radiated crown, but no coin has come under my notice corroborating this statement. Otho bears a very palpable peruke, thus confirming the statement of Suetonius in that respect. Vitellius wears the hair plain. From Titus to Maximus the hair is tied up with a ribbon. On Gordianus III. appears the radiated crown, fillet and ribbon, and similarly down to Aurelian, who wears simply a laurel and a ribbon. From Claudius Gothicus to Diocletian, radiated crown and ribbon. Diocletian, laurel and ribbon. Maximianus, laurel and vitta, as well, also, crown and ribbon. Licinus, vitta. Licinus, vitta. Constantine, vitta; also laurel and ribbon. The change from the right to wear the radiated crown when dead and deified, to the privilege of bearing it while living, was soon easily effected by the artful flattery which raised a mortal emperor to the gods.

The Romans, while tamely submitting to the reality of a kingly power, hated all external insignia of that distinction. Their monarchs had for centuries worn ambiguous insignia before they dared to assume this badge of tyrannic power, and they were most careful in their policy from the days of Augustus, to avoid all symbols which savored of

royalty, and to refrain from every outward manifestation that was likely to recall the hated name of king, or the recollections of the early days of the Roman kingdom.

A story is told that Pompey once appeared in public with a white fillet bound around his leg, ostensibly on account of a wound or a bruise. This trifling circumstance was looked upon as being a sign of his aspiring to supreme control, and a sturdy republican told him that it made little odds upon what part of his person he wore the diadem, the intention being in any case the same.

According to Jornandes, Aurelian was the first of the Roman emperors who assumed the diadem, adopting it from the luxurious habits of the Persians. I have first noticed it on the Roman coinage upon the money issued by Licinius.

Constantine the Great especially affected this decoration. There was something in the bent of his mind naturally tending to Oriental extravagance and the habits inculcated by a seraglio training. He dressed with the luxury and effeminacy of a woman. He wore bracelets of pearls that extended from his hands all the way to his elbows, and this not on one arm alone, but on both.

The simple form of the vitta was too plain for his love of gorgeous display. He* caused it to become a casque-shaped cap which covered the whole of his head, adorning it in the Persian manner by row upon row of diamonds, pearls and other precious stones. Even Julian, philosopher as he was, did not scruple to wear a diadem embroidered with a double row of pearls.

The Christian emperors made especial use of the diadem, renouncing the formerly commonly worn laurel crown, whose use they thought savored of idolatry and old pagan ideas.

In the reign of the Constantine family, the right of wearing the crown was likewise conferred upon the empresses. This was an innovation. The heads of the females of the reigning houses upon the earlier coinage always occur uncrowned, but often dressed, as in the case of the consorts of Commodus and Caracalla, in some absurd manner. We find Julia Domna, Soemias, Mamaea, and Plautilla evidently represented upon their coins as wearing false additional hair, which could be removed. (Müller.) Other nations as well as Rome frequently exhibit on their money female as well as male crowned heads. Philadelphia. HENRY PHILLIPS, Jr.

THE "PESCENNIUS NIGER" IN THE FRENCH CABINET.

A GOLD Coin of Pescennius Niger was in Mr. Woodward's sale of Jan. 10 last, and provoked some discussion. The coin now belongs to one of the Editors, who exhibited it at the last meeting of the Boston Numismatic Society, showing also the Volume of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London for 1750, which contains the account of the discovery and purchase of this coin or its original, with an engraving. Part of the communication here follows verbatim. An abstract of a Discourse intitled, Reflexions on the Medals of Pescennius Niger, and upon some Circumstances in the history of his Life; writen in French by Mr. Claude Gros de Boze, keeper of the Medals in the French King's Cabinet, etc. and sent by him to Dr. Mead, who communicated it to this Society. By John Ward, R.P.G. and F. R.S. — Read May 31, 1750. ***** At length, in the month of July 1748, Mr. de Boze had fresh incouragement to pursue his inquiry; which he did with greater attention, and better success, than before. A barefooted Carmelite of the convent of Paris shewed him a letter, which he had received from one of his own order at Marseilles, who lately arrived from the Levant, where he had been imployed as a missionary. His correspondent acquainted him, that he had a gold medal of Pescennius, which the curious at Marseilles were desirous to purchase, and had offered him a considerable sum for it; but as he hoped to get more at Paris, especially if it was not in the King's cabinet, he desired him to let him know that, as likewise what value Mr. de Boze put upon it. His answer was, that he would certainly give a good price for it, if it was antient; but that he could offer nothing, till he had seen it. The owner therefore brought him the medal, which was fair, well preserved, and

* Some authorities say that Justinian was the first Roman monarch who wore a closed crown, sometimes deep and cap-shaped, sometimes shallow, surmounted by

a cross, and often embroidered wtth a double row of pearls.

free from any thing, which might occasion the least suspicion; so that he valued it considerably higher, than what had before been offered, and immediately purchased it for the King.

And

Soon after he shewed it to the greatest connoisseurs and most curious persons at Paris, who were charmed with the sight of so valuable and unexpected a medal in the Royal cabinet. many both natives and foreigners being desirous of a draught of it, he ordered it to be ingraved. *** A print accompanies this paper.

And

The gold medal has on one side the head of Pescennius Niger crowned with laurel, with this legend, IMP CAES C PESC NIGER ivstvs avg. And upon the reverse, the godess Concord, represented by a female figure standing, with a diadem on her head, one of her hands elevated, and a double horn of plenty in the other; and round the figure only the word CONCORDIA. For the letters PP, placed below in the feild, on the two sides of the figure, being the usual abbreviation of PATER PATRIAE, are to be considered as part of the inscription surrounding the head of Pescennius. it is well known, as Mr. de Boze observes, that in many medals of the Roman emperors nothing is more common, than to find on the reverse a continuation of those titles, which could not be contained on the same side with the head. But he thinks it has not been yet sufficiently attended to, that in many medals of the cities in Lesser Asia, and especially of those in Cilicia, where Pescennius was first proclaimed, the title Pater patriae, which they expressed by the two Greek letters П, for Пatno Пatpido, is scarce ever placed in the circular inscription on either side, but in the feild of the reverse. For which reason he is inclined to beleive, that this medal was struck at Tarsus, the metropolis of Cilicia, where that practice was more constant, than in any other place.

It would scarce be worth observing, he sais, that in the word CONCORDIA the letter D is inverted after this manner a, since such mistakes are very common both in antient and modern coins; was it not to prevent any imaginary suspicion of its being done by design. *****

TRANSACTIONS OF SOCIETIES.

BOSTON NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

February 4. A monthly meeting was held this day. The Secretary read the report of the last meeting, which was accepted. Mr. Walter Woodman of Cambridge was elected a member. The Treasurer presented his annual report, which was accepted, and showed the Society to be in good financial condition. The President announced a donation from the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, of a pamphlet containing the Proceedings of that Society for 1880, for which thanks were voted. Mr. Woodward showed a number of coins and medals, among which were several of interest, of Germany and other countries. The Society adjourned at 5 P. M.

March 4. A monthly meeting was held this day. The Secretary read the report of the last meeting, which was accepted, and letters from Messrs. Woodman and Hoffmann, accepting membership. The President announced a donation from Mr. G. F. Ulex, of Hamburg, of a privately printed Catalogue of Medals, entitled “Pestilentia in Nummis," etc., for which the thanks of the Society were voted. Mr. Woodward showed a parcel of interesting coins, including several antique. Some discussion took place on the meaning and use of the words "type" and "variety," but no conclusion of importance was reached. The Society adjourned at 5.30 P. M.

April 1. A monthly meeting was held this day. The Secretary read the report of the last meeting, which was accepted. The President announced a donation from Mr. T. O. Weigel, of Leipzig, of the first volume of the "Dictionnaire Numismatique" of Alex. Boutkowski, for which the thanks of the Society were voted. The Secretary said a few words on the subject of Types and Varieties, expressing his views, and exhibiting in illustration cents of 1856-7, quoting also his printed description of dollars of 1873. The Society adjourned soon after 5 P. M.

WM. S. APPLETON, Sec'y.

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

AT the annual meeting of this Society, June 17, 1881, the following officers were chosen for the ensuing year:- President, S. H. Morgan; Vice-President, J. E. H. Kelley; Secretary, George W. Rode; Treasurer, R. D. Book; Curator, A. C. Gies. Pittsburg, Pa.

NUMISMATIC AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA.

A MEETING of the Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, was held May 5, 1881. Mr. Charles Henry Hart, the Historiographer, read a memoir of the late Hon. William Beach Lawrence, and Honorary Vice-President of the Society for the State of Rhode Island.

A communication was read from Dr. D. G. Brinton in reference to certain Aztec ruins on the San Juan river, not hitherto described.

Mr. Chandler made a further and detailed communication in reference to the sculptured rocks in Venezuela, seen by him in 1846, and a description of which he communicated, with a diagram, in that year to the National Institution at Washington.

These rocks are near the village of San Estevan, between Caraccas and Valencia, and are about twenty feet in height, with a regular and plain surface, inclining at an angle of about 45° to the road. They are chiefly of mica, granite, and feldspar, and present a hard surface. They are on the east side of the road. The figures, although more or less noticed from time to time by passengers travelling the road, had up to 1846, never received any special attention from scientists. There are, however, no traditions attached to them to account for their existence or origin, but they are known to have existed as early as the first days of the Spanish conquest, and may possibly have been connected with the religious rites or observances of the aboriginal races preceding those whom the Spaniards found there. The average depth of the sculptures is about half an inch. They seem to be in groups, and each character is apparently an ideograph.

Mr. Duffield read an article on the Land of Moab and the Moabite stone, or socalled pillar of King Messa.

Mrs. Lea Ahlborn, of the Royal Swedish Mint, presented a magnificent bronze medal, cut by herself, commemorating the jubilee held in the city of Upsala in 1877, on the occasion of the four-hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the University by Sten Sture, Senior, and continued by the Roman Catholic Archbishop Jacob Ulfson. Mrs. Ahlborn writes: "It is still a matter of doubt which of these men was the real founder of the University. I have placed the busts of both upon the medal, as well as those of Gustavus Adolphus and Oscar II. Dates 1624, 1477, and 1877, also occur on the medal. The first refers to the period when the University became really active by Gustavus dismissing all the old and incapable teachers that had barnacled themselves on to the institution, and additionally presented to it all his private fortune, consisting of three hundred and thirteen estates. The ornamentation is of the old Norse style, very much in vogue now in Scandinavia, on account of late archæological discoveries; a style exhibiting distinctly an Oriental origin. This medal is the largest ever struck in Sweden, and is the first on which fragments of Scandinavian ornaments have been reproduced. On the reverse of the medal is the Goddess Aurora driving a chariot with two winged horses, and bearing a torch in her hand. Before her steeds the clouds are rolling up and disappearing."

This medal will shortly be placed in the Society's collection in Memorial Hall, when the public will have an opportunity of being gratified with an inspection of the work of this great woman artist.

*

AMERICAN NUMISMATIC AND ARCHEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK.

We regret that the abstract of the Proceedings of the American Numismatic and Archæological Society of New York has failed to reach us. Their Annual Meeting has taken place since our last report, and there have been a large number of accessions to membership.

WE again beg to warn numismatists with respect to the operations of a coin dealer, who resides not a hundred miles from Nottingham, and who continues to offer for sale some clever imitations of Roman and Anglo-Saxon coins, rare medals, etc., mostly so cleverly executed as to deceive even a skilled numismatist.-The Antiquarian, London.

THE bronze metal purchased during the year, for the British Mint, amounted to one hundred tons, in bars ready for coinage; the profit on this coinage was £35,396.

GERMAN INTERNATIONAL "FISHERIES" MEDAL.

The German Government have lately held an Exposition at Berlin of matters relating to fish and fish culture, at which exhibitions of methods and of preserved fish, etc., were shown from several foreign countries and from the United States. A very handsome Medal was awarded as a recompense, having the following design: Obverse, bust to left of the Crown Prince Frederick William of Prussia, in uniform and wearing Orders; on the edge of the shoulder, E. SCHWENZER. Legend, FRIEDRICH WILHELM KRONPRINZ DES DEUTSCHEN REICHES UND VON PREUSSEN. Reverse, a sea-nymph, with flowing hair, draped below the waist, seated on a rock by the sea; her right hand holds a wreath of olive, and her left, uplifted, a paddle, around which falls a net. In the distance, a lighthouse, ships, etc. In exergue, an eel between a codfish and salmon. Legend, INTERNATIONALE FISCHEREI-AUSTELLUNG ZU BERLIN 1880. Silver. Size 46. Our description is from the Medal awarded to Potter & Wrightington of Boston, received in May last from the German Government.

COIN SALES.

THE Crowded state of this number of the Journal obliges us to condense our quarterly report of Coin sales, and there are several which take place at the close of June, of considerable interest, which we can only mention now, and shall refer to in our next issue.

66

FROSSARD'S MARCH SALE.

Mr. Frossard held a sale at Messrs. Bangs & Co.'s room, on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24, last. The Catalogue, 48 pages, prepared by that gentleman, included 1079 lots, among which were some unique Grant Medals." Becker's Copies of Ancient Coins, Masonics, and many other interesting pieces; we regret we can allude to so few: among them were the Russian Neutrality Revolutionary Medal, which sold for $6; Netherland do. 6; another Peace Medal (Fonrobert, 28, but not in Appleton's list,) of the Netherlands, 3.50 [See Journal, Vol. ii, p. 63, and iv, p. 19.] Gloriam Regni, [ibid., xi, p. 49,], 5.25; Proof set of 1857, 24.25; Half Dollar, 1794, 6.75; do. 1797, 43.50; Cent of 1793. wreath, v. f. 10.35; do. '95, thick planchet, lettered edge, v. f. and r. 23.50. Masonic, Cologne Charter, (Marvin, 18) silver, 4.10; Archimedes, (do. 351) 4.50; French Geographic Medal, struck inscription, presented to Lieut. Lynch, size 44, weight 5 ounces, and unique, 15.25. Many others brought high prices, while the Beckers sold below what was expected.

valued than ever.

WOODWARD'S THIRTY-SIXTH SALE.

Mr. Woodward held his Thirty-Sixth Sale in New York, April 4-7, at the rooms of Bangs & Co., when he offered the Clogston Collection of Coins. The Catalogue, 94 pages, embraced 2556 lots, of the usual variety. The "new departure" of Mr. Woodward in giving heliotype plates of the more interesting pieces in his catalogues is an excellent plan, and a series of these catalogues will be even more highly We quote a few of the prices obtained, as follows: Cent of 1779, v. g. $11.50; 1804, perfect die, v. g. 8.25; do. broken die, 6.05. Dollars. - 1794, altered from '95, 5.10; 1854, v. f. 11.85; '55, do. 7. Half Dollars.-1802, v. g. 605; 1815, 4.75; 52, 5.60; Washington Half Dollar, 9.55; 36 Dollar, Liberty seated, flying eagle, v. f. 7.60; '96 Half Dollar, in only fair condition, 15.50; Coronation Medal of Queen Anne, 7.50. Some Badges in the sale also brought very good prices.

SCOTT'S THIRTY-FIFTH SALE.

copper,

Messrs. Scott & Company of New York held their Thirty-fifth Sale at the rooms of Leavitt & Co., Friday evening. April 8. The Catalogue, 16 pages, contained 520 lots, a miscellaneous collection of coins, medals and curiosities, and a number of postage and revenue stamps. Of postage stamps, one of Nova Scotia, for one shilling, violet, used, sold for $9.30; a three-cent U. S. stamp, N. Y., 1842.—the first government stamp issued in this country, and unused. brought 25; a Confederate envelope, Charleston, 5 cents, yellow paper, unused, 11; Confederate Half Dollar, restruck on 1861 Half, 7; tin medal of Gen. Pope, size 52, thought to be unique, 5; a lot of Fractional Currency, the shield set," removed from frame, and damaged, 10.10. The prices generally were fairly remunerative.

MONTANYE SALE.

April 27 and 28, Bangs & Co. sold a collection of Coins and Medals, the property of Mr. L. F. Montanye of New York. The Catalogue, 56 pages, contained 1282 lots, and was prepared by Mr. H. G. Sampson, to whom we are indebted for a priced list. The prices generally were very good. Briot's pattern Half Crown of Charles I. $10.25; Crown of Cromwell, 1658, 15.25; Half Crown, do. 10.75; Three Rouble piece of Nicholas I. platina, 6.25. Dollars. 1795, flowing hair, sharp, unc. 6.25; '98, 13 stars, small eagle, 10; '39. Liberty seated, and flying eagle, 40; '54, proof, 22; '56, do. 14.25; '57, do. 10.50; '58 do. 39.50. Half Dollars. 1794, v. g. 9.75; '95, 6.25; 1815, unc. 13.25. Quarters.- 1796, v. f. 23; 1815, v. f. unc. 6; '28, pr. 5. Cents.1793, varieties, wreath, 27 and 16.50; Liberty cap, 13; '94,