84 JHt: KIMMERIDOE COAL MONEY. 



exactness, circles and various angles ; the centres of the circles 

 were evident, as if the point of the compass had indented the 

 material." I have frequently found pieces of rings, or rather 

 armlets, armillce, (pi. viii, figs. 2 & 3,) apparently about two 

 inches and a quarter in diameter: they are of the same material, 

 and the inner curve will be found to agree with the circumference 

 of the most frequent sized pieces of "Coal Money." Mr. Sydendam 

 mentions an instance of a "perfect ring being dug up in the 

 formation of a drain, the inner diameter of which was an inch 

 and a quarter, and the thickness three eighths of an inch," 

 making a total diameter of two inches. I have occasionally found 

 flat circular pieces of shale rudely cut by some sharp instrument 

 into an irregular form of four or five inches, with central per- 

 forations varying from half an inch to one, and two inches, in 

 diameter, (pi. v. fig 2.) Another specimen which I have, is 

 the half of an amulet of three inches and 'a half in diameter, 

 having a central hole of five eighths of an inch, the sides of which 

 as well as the circumference of the specimen, are smoothly round- 

 ed. The armlets do not appear to have been turned direct out 

 of the coal whilst in its rough state: the piece was first cut and 

 fashioned into a circular form, the holes for the chuck chiseled 

 or drilled out, and then in this state, applied to the lathe. 



(pl. V. fig. 1.) 



The difierence in the varieties of the " Coal Money" arises 

 from two causes ; first, the different kinds of chucks of the lathe 

 used, and secondly the number of rings cut off one piece ; the 

 usual form supplying only one, whilst from that of a conical, 

 two or more have been taken. 



Var: 1. Taken in their order of frequency, the most usual 

 form is that in which a chuck with a square head has been used 

 to attach the work to the lathe. ( pl. vi. ) These vary in 

 diameter from two inches and a half, to an inch and one third, 

 and in thickness from two fifths of an inch, to half an inch. The 

 circular lines which appear to have been for ornament, are 

 merely the necessary markings of the tool. The straight lines 

 which are found drawn at right angles to the sides of the square 

 hole, (pl. vi. fig. 4,) were probably for the purpose of centering 

 the piece. In one instance this has been effected by a circle, 

 evidently described by the compass, (pl. vi. fig. 8.) Of this 

 variety are extant two specimens, one of which is in the Museum 



