138 



NOTES. 



Ancient Coins at Dover. — During excavations in 1893, in 

 Cannon Street, Dover, fifty-five coins were found of different 

 denominations. All were in sucli poor condition, that it was 

 desirable to obtain the opinion of an expert upon them. One, a 

 broken silver fragment, another, a foreign coin, and a small copper 

 token, are included in the total, but these are indistinguishable ; 

 of the remainder, fifteen, viz. : one silver denarius valuable only 

 as old metal, and fourteen (small corroded specimens) apparently 

 Roman third brass, are totally illegible and quite worthless. 



The decipherable coins of modern date are three in number, 

 viz. : "William III. halfpenny, George II. farthing, and halfpenny 

 of either George I. or early coinage of George III., but this is 

 scarcely recognisable. 



Of the more ancient, a Roman first brass in good condition, 

 belongs to Trajan. It has the emperor's bu-^t and usual abbreviated 

 inscription upon the obverse IMP. CAES. NERVAE. TRAIANO. 

 AUG. GER. DAC. P.M.TR.P.COS.V.P.P.,* the reverse reads 

 S.P.Q.R. OPTIMO PRINCIPI. SC. with a winged figure offering 

 libation inscribed VIC. DAC. (Dacian Yictory). 



Another first brass is totally indecipherable, but as thera 

 appears to be a crown with points upon the head it cannot belong 

 to the same monarch. 



A second brass in bad condition, is illegible excepting as to 

 the left side of the obverse, which clearly reads IMP. NERVA. 

 CAES. AUG. and must belong to this Emperor, whose short reign 

 has caused his coins to be somewhat uncommon. 



A smaller coin appears to have the head of Valens upon the 

 obverse, but the inscription cannot be read. 



One denarius of base silver of (probably) Valerianus. 



* These letters stand for IMP (eratori), CAES (ari), NERVAE 

 TRAIANO AUG (usto), GER (manico), DAC (ico, V (ontifici), M (aximo), 

 TR (ibunitia), P (otestate), CO (n) S (uli), V P (atri) P (atrise). To the best 

 Emperor, Cassar Nerva Trajan Augustus, of Germany and Dacia, High 

 Pontiff, exercising tribunicial power, for the 5th time Consul, Father of his 

 Country. The reverse reads, The Roman Senate and people to the best 

 prince by decree of the (tribunicial) college. 



J 



