185 



Malet, 552, 



Malet, 615. 

 Malet, 621. 

 Malet, 623. 

 Re. a Female holding a Cornucopia. 



1 1. Hadrian, . . 



12. Antoninus Pius, 



13. Antoninus Pius, 



14. Antoninus Pius, 



15. Antoninus Pius, 



16. Faustina the Elder, Malet, 670. 



17. Faustina theYounger,Afa^^/, 723. 



Dr. Smith remarks, that the coin of Hadrian, No. 11, is 

 interesting, as having on the reverse a star and crescent, 

 resenibUng those on the Irish coins of King John. 



The Rev. Dr. Drummond then gave an account of other 

 Roman coins that had been found in Ireland ; and in some 

 preliminary observations he dwelt on the utility of preserving 

 a knowledge even of such an insulated fact as the discovery 

 of a coin, for though of little importance in itself, it might 

 prompt to farther research, and lead both the historian and 

 antiquary to consequences which could scarcely have been 

 anticipated. 



In England, almost every year is bringing to light various 

 monuments of Roman antiquity, but in Ireland they are ex- 

 ceedingly rare; though, perhaps, of more frequent occurrence 

 than is generally known. Ancient coins and other articles 

 have been repeatedly found by persons ignorant of their real 

 value, and sold as mere metal by their weight, without re- 

 gard to their age and character. Thus, we read in Mason's 

 Parochial Survey, that in the parish of Dunaghy were found 

 a number of silver coins, which were sold at Ballymena be- 

 fore any one had an opportunity of examining or describing 

 them. Again, the Rev. Alexander Ross informs us, that 

 a person on whose veracity he could depend, assured him, 

 that about thirty years prior to the time of his writing, two 

 or three men, in digging an old fort near Cashel, found an 

 earthen pot, which might contain four or five quarts, filled 

 with gold coins of different sizes (Par. Survey, II. p. 304). 



