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olcfer than the beginning of the eighth century, nor of a later date 

 than the clofe of the fifteenth, except thofe made by order of 

 the Engliih government in this illand. 



From the rude manner in which the coins before us are exe- 

 cuted, they are probably of the earlieft periods, that is, from the 

 eighth to the twelfth century ; but being all without dates, their 

 true age will not be eafily afcertained. The rude refemblance 

 of heads on them are all armed with the clofe helmet of the 

 northern nations, fo prevalent through Europe from the tenth to 

 the fifteenth century; and the univerfal figure of a crofs on the 

 reverfe fully evinces their origin within the Chriftian vera.. 



The legends are compofcd of mixed letters, found in the 

 Latin and Roman alphabets during the middle ages, as given by 

 Bernard. The difi:erent Runic charaders of Wormius are of 

 the fame fpecies as thofe found on Runic coins and Runic infcrip- 

 tions in Sweden and the Ifle of Man : And alfo thofe fpecies of 

 charaders denominated by the Irifh Ogham Croahh. All which 

 charadera fo mixed are found in the Irifh monumental infcrip- 

 tions and ftone croffes from the tenth to the fixteenth century. 



The legends on thefe coins, which are all in the Irifh lan- 

 guage, generally begin at the crofs near the head, and run from 

 the left to the right ; thofe on the reverfe begin at a fmall crofs 

 adjoining the larger, in one of the quarters on the left. 



The 



