of the Roman gold, which lasted till the age of Constantine, and was continued by the eastern emperors, under whom it circulated throughout Europe, when, in the dark ages, no other gold coins were known; the pieces being known as Byzants, that is, money of Byzantium, the old name being still preferred to the more modern one of Constantinople.

The earliest specimens of the Roman aureus were, after the Greek manner,* made of double the weight of the silver unit, and of the value of twenty; so that the aureus weighed the weight of two denarii, and was of the value of twenty.t

Among the great variety of types of Roman republican gold, the student may at first find some difficulty in settling which types belong to the earliest period. But I believe the same criterion which I have mentioned as governing the chronology of the first silver, may also be applied to the gold, that is to say, those with the simple head of Pallas or Roma, without decoration, in the style of the earliest denarii, and with no inscription but the word Roma, are the earliest.

The aureus was at first said to be coined at the rate of forty to the pound weight of gold, which would give to each piece near 130 grains; but I have found none of early character, with the exception of the extra weighted coinage of Sulla, ranging beyond 124 grains, nor falling below 117, which brings the weight nearer to that of two denarii than the stated weight of forty to the pound. This rate, however, was gradually reduced, and in the reign of Nero fortyfive aurei were coined out of the pound weight of goldgiving only 106 grains to each piece-the denarius having declined in relative proportion.

The simplicity of the early gold types soon became more complicated-the name of the officer of the mint for the time being was added to the simple inscription ROMA— and the national type of the Dioscuri on the reverse eventually also gave way to some type connected with the family of the moneyer, while the old and somewhat rude style of the head of Pallas or Roma was succeeded by a more decorative

*See weight and values of Greek coins.

This coinage was therefore not calculated on the sestertius but on the as.

manner of treatment, as will be seen by comparing that on a gold coin of Sulla, engraved below, and the heads on an earlier Quinarius and Sestertius in a pre

MANLI

vious page of this chapter. (p. 271.)

The reverse apparently represents the dictator Sulla, in a triumphal car; but such a representation can hardly be considered a portrait, and therefore does not interfere with the assertion of numismatists, that the portrait of Julius Cæsar was the first ever placed upon the coinage of Rome.

Gold Coin of Sulla.

The Lucullian gold was money coined by Lucullus, under the direction of Sulla, of more than one-fourth extra weight, with which his soldiery were paid, and which is sufficient to account for the devotion of the army to the tyrant; some of these aurei are said to weigh 202 grains, but I have seen none heavier than 167 1-10th grains; the one engraved above being 166 1-10th grains. Of the further development of the Roman Republican gold I shall speak in the article on the " family" or "consular" coinage.

SILVER COINS OF THE SOCIAL WAR.

When Rome had at length brought all the Italian states and cities, whether Greek or native, under the domination of her power, and began to extend her pretensions_far beyond those limits, even beyond those of Europe, and to establish her sway in Asia, the very centre of her power appeared likely to be shaken by the revolt of Italy. The principal Italic states, claiming to hold the same rank and privileges as Rome herself, instead of being treated as conquered and tributary nations, rose in the year 91 B.C., in the form of a powerful confederation against the dominant metropolis, and commenced the so-called, social war.

Though eventually defeated by the discipline and vast resources of Rome, they had displayed sufficient determination and power to ensure the respect of the great republic, and obtain by concession the privileges they had failed to enforce by arms.

During the struggle the confederated states struck coins

illustrative of their claims, their successes, and their national characters, which form most interesting and characteristic monuments of this episode in the great story of Rome.

Among these coins of the social war I shall only be able to describe a few, but they will be sufficient to exhibit the general character of the whole series, which, however, are all worthy the careful examination and research of the curious student.

The coins are generally silver denarii, and the first I shali notice are those with the inscription "Q. Silo," struck by Quintus Pompædius Silo, the leader of the Marsians, and in fact, of the whole confederacy, of which he was the animating spirit. Silo endeavoured to give to the revolt the character of a general Italic protestation against the individuality of Rome, and the word "Italia," either in Latin or Oscan characters, is found on most of the coins struck by the combined states during the war. The head on the obverse of the principal coin I am about to describe is in the style of the head of Roma, on the Roman denarii, but with the inscription, "Italia." On the reverse are eight warriors taking an oath in the ancient Italic manner over a swine held by a youth, with the inscription "Q. Silo" beneath. Livy has preserved the form of oath taken in this manner, which varied according to the people and circumstances. He makes it run as follows:- "If THEY shall first depart from them (the conditions) by authority of the state, through fraud or deceit, may Jupiter in that day strike them (the Romans, or any other people,) as I shall here this day strike this swine."* Mr. Millingen considers that the eight warriors indicate eight confederated states; but M. Merimé is of opinion that a confederation is indicated without any regard to the number, for it is not known how many states joined or allied themselves in this cause, their number being very variously computed by different authors. More probable than either of the above conjectures is that which supposes four of the figures to represent Romans, and the other four a party of the confederates, and that the oath being taken refers to a treaty made between the contending parties

"Si prior defexit, publico consilio, dolo malo; tu illo die, Jupiter (populum Romanum) sic ferito, ut ego hune poreum hie hodie feriam.". Liv. i. 24.

during the course of the war. This view is borne out by the passage in Cicero,* which states that, "In the treaty formerly with the Samnites, a certain noble youth held up a swine, by command of the imperator," &c.t

Another coin has a similar head, which may possibly be the impersonation of Italy, with "Italia" beneath-behind which is a wreath of laurel indicating recent triumphs. The type of the obverse is the Dioscuri, on prancing horses, as they are usually represented when intended to denote victory obtained through their aid. The inscription beneath is in Öscan or Samnite characters, and has not been explained. The word in Samnite characters on many of these coins has been deciphered as Viteliu, supposed to be the ancient name of Italy, or perhaps a mystic name, as Valentia was of Rome. The coins with Viteliu in Samnite characters are supposed by numismatists to belong to the southern confederated states, and those with Italia to the northern.

The word Mutil occurring on these coins, written in Oscan characters, is an abbreviation of, C. Papius Mutilius, the leader of the Samnites. Some have "Mutil Embrator,” equivalent to the Roman Imperator. The word "Safinim," in Samnite characters, is considered to be the national name of the Samnites in their native dialect.

One of the most striking types of the coins belonging to the series of the social war, is that in which a bull is seen overcoming a wolf; the bull symbolising Italy, and the wolf Rome. The origin of the symbol of the bull as a national emblem among the Samnites is thus described by Strabo:-The nation having vowed "a spring to Mars," their youth went forth, and following a bull, which directed its course to the south, and lay down in the territory of the Opici, they there sacrificed to Mars, and adopting the omen, settled in that district, and assumed the figure of a bull as a national emblem.

Most of the coins struck by the insurgents during the social war are denarii, some being marked with the numerical X, and others with, denoting XVI, after the denarius was declared of the value of sixteen ases.

Cicero de Inv.

A treaty sworn to in a similar manner with the Campanian states it recorded on a gold coin described in the article on "The first Roman Gold."

The restoration of peace, and general prosperity after the evils of the social war, appears to be represented on a denarius struck expressly, and most probably at Rome, to commemorate the auspicious event. The head of personified Italy, crowned with olive as an emblem of plenty, appears in front of Roma, with the usual helmet; one profile over the other; or it may be that these heads rather symbolise agriculture as the characteristic of Italy in general, and arms, as that of Rome; though the letters behind, and in front, Hо and VR would rather seem to indicate Honos and Virtus, (Honour and Virtue,) as the impersonations intended. On the reverse are two female figures of similar import, the one holding a rod or sceptre, and placing her foot upon a globe, is designated as Roma by the letters RO behind the figure; the other, holding a cornucopia, as an emblem of plenty, is distinguished by a monogram as Italia. They are holding each other's hands in token of concord. The inscription beneath these figures, CORDI, has generally been considered to be the name Cordus, a surname borne by some of the Scævolæ, as it occupies the place in which such names are commonly found on the " 'family coins." But on this coin, which is evidently not of the usual denarian series, but struck to commemorate some especial and important event, it is perhaps more probable that it alludes to the celebration of the happy termination of the civil discords as addressed to the best feelings-" to the heart;" while the inscription on the other side, KALENI or KALENT, may possibly refer to the date or calend, at which the pacification was finally concluded, rather than to the name Calenus, borne by some members of the Fufia family, as generally supposed.

COINS OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC, TERMED "FAMILY"

CONSULAR COINS.

In order to understand the progress of this class of Roman coins, it will be necessary to retrace our steps, as we have advanced beyond the period of their earliest appearance, in describing the earliest gold, and the coins of the Social