An essay on medals [by J. Pinkerton].T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1808 - 376 pages |
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Adventus Aug Alexander ancient Antioch Auggg Augusta Augustorum billon Bithynia brass bust Cæs Cæsar Caracalla Caria century Cilicia coinage Colonia Commodus common Concordia Augg Consecratio copper Crete crown denarius didr Edward Elagabalus emperor England English eques farthings Faustina Felicitas Felix forgeries France French Gallienus Gaul Gloria Romanorum gold coins Goltz Greek groat half-groat halfpenny hemidr Henry Herculi Ireland Irish isle Italy James James III Jovi Julia king kingdom legend Liberalitas Lydia Macedon Marti medallions metal modern coins modern medals Moneta mult Mysia Orbis Philip Phoenicia Phrygia pieces Pietas plates portrait prince Principi Ptolemy queen rare reign reverse Roma Romæ Roman RRRR Sæculi Salus Scotish Scotish coins Scotland Severus shilling Sicily silver penny Spain Spes struck Syria tetr Thessaly Thrace Trajan Vict Victoria Victoria Aug Virtus Aug Vota publica Votis ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ
Popular passages
Page 104 - The tokens', he wrote, which every tavern and tippling house (in the days of late anarchy and confusion among us) presumed to stamp and utter for immediate exchange, as they were passable through the neighbourhood, which, though seldom reaching further than the next street or two, may happily in after times come to exercise and busy the learned critic what they should signify and fill whole volumes with their conjectures.
Page 71 - The practice was introduced by Henry VII. of presenting the person ' touched ' with a small gold or silver coin, called a touch-piece. The one presented to Dr Johnson has St George and the Dragon on one side and a ship on the other ; the legend of the former is Soli deo gloria, and of the latter Anna D: GM BR.
Page 143 - Scottish arms. On the borders of the canopy above the throne is an inscription in Gothic letters, IN MI DEFFEN, being corrupt French for in my defence; a common motto in the Scottish arms.
Page 224 - ... other in a manner which no art can imitate. The plated medals which have been forged in ancient times were long supposed to be capable of resisting every effort of modern imitation ; but of late years, " some ingenious rogues (says Mr. Pinkerton), thought of piercing false medals of silver with a red-hot needle, which gave a blackness to the inside of the coin, and made it appear plated to an injudicious eye. This fraud is easily distinguished by scraping the inside of the metal.
Page 115 - About 1740, and for some years before and after, Dassier, a native of Geneva, settling in London, engraved a series of medals of all the English kings, with great taste and spirit. They are struck upon fine copper, and amount to thirty-six in number. He likewise gave medals of many illustrious men of this and other nations; all of which deserve considerable praise."—Pinkerton on Coins, vol.
Page 104 - It needs hardly be added, that they are recommended to the supreme scorn of the reader, who may justly regard the studying or collecting of them, along with the admiration of counters, as beneath any man of taste.
Page 102 - ... several cities struck tokens, which were confined to the use of their respective inhabitants, till they were called in by order of government.^ In the city of London this traffic of coinage was very considerable...
Page 82 - England; yet he and his descendents were chief monarchs; though petty kingdoms existed till 959, and some of their coins are found, as of Sihtric and Anlaf of Northumbria. The coins of the chief monarchs present almost a complete series, from Egbert 832 to Edgar 959; after whom there are only kings of all England. Ethelbald 857, is the only chief monarch of whom there are no coins: and there are none of Edmund Ironside, AD 1016.
Page 82 - Most of them bear rude portraits, and the reverses are sometimes curious and interesting. Some have views of cathedrals, and other buildings; particularly one of Edward the Elder, AD 900, has the cathedral of York, with three rows of windows, round arched.