ROMAN COINS FOUND AT LITTLE CHESTER. I09 



possessed, or had formerly possessed, Roman coins, added" to 

 the curious ignorance of those who had unearthed them (who 

 sometimes fancied them to be of fictitious value, and filed them 

 to find out whether they were gold or silver), have often entirely 

 obliterated what would otherwise have been found fairly good 

 specimens. These causes have been far more destructive than 

 time. 



To prevent, if possible, the carrying awayj^from the neigh- 

 bourhood, and consequent loss to the town, of such interesting 

 historical relics of the Roman occupation, may we venture to 

 suggest, that in future such coins and other Roman remains found 

 in the county should find a permanent resting-place in the public 

 Museum, and that they be carefully labelled and well displayed 

 in a suitable light for close examination and study. This is an 

 important provisor, because it must be said that in too many 

 instances, such small objects as these coins are found so 

 arranged and displayed in many museums as to be practically 

 useless, because of the fancy for showing only the obverse side 

 of the same coin to the neglect of the reverse, which is mostly of 

 more interest, and which, besides, differs so greatly in coins of 

 the same emperor. Coins are always best arranged on a white 

 ground, with sufficient margin ; and should always have below 

 them a copy of the letterings in the legends, inscriptions, and 

 exergues, in printed letters, easy to see and read. Small writing 

 is altogether out of place in a museum or cabinet. Very few 

 people interested in such things can see small writing, and, of 

 course, a good light is of the utmost importance. 



We are aware that many persons have in their possession a few of 

 these old coins, stowed away "somewhere"! that might just as well 

 be nowhere ; for our experience has been, that generally they could 

 ■ not be found, and if so fortunate, even then, the most valuable 

 and interesting had been lost altogether. Others have been 

 carried away from the neighbourhood, and are no longer 

 accessible. It would, indeed, now be very difficult to bring 

 together a complete collection of even Little Chester coins, 

 to say nothing about those found throughout the county. It is, 



