10 On the Ring Money of the Celta. 
So extensively a commercial people as the Phenicians, of whom the Celtz were 
unquestionably colonists, could not long carry on their affairs of trade by the means 
of barter and exchange. ‘They would soon feel the necessity for something defined to 
represent property, and the precious metals would be naturally suggested as the rea- 
diest mean, and weight would be adopted as the measure. ‘They were, in all proba- 
bility, the inventors of ring-money, for they were certainly the first people who car- 
ried on an extensive commerce. 
Gold and silver wire, cut into equal lengths, were most likely the first attempt at 
money, because the pieces could more easily be made of the required weight and 
value. Straight pieces are inconvenient of carriage, would wear a purse, or bag, and 
escape from small apertures ; this inconvenience naturally suggested twisting the wire 
into the form of a ring, such were the gold ring-money of the Gael of Gaul, Bri- 
tain, and Ireland. ‘The brass rings were cast, first, like those of gold, afterwards in a 
perfect ring ; and both are every day found in Ireland in great numbers. 
Vast quantities of articles in gold and brass are also found, the use of which have 
not a little puzzled the learned antiquaries. Vallancey calls them paterz, but as pa- 
tere they are of the most inconvenient shape; they will not stand, so as to hold a li- 
quid ; and, having two cups, one would discharge itself while a person was drinking 
from the other. Vallancey supposes them sacrificial cups, and that they were used to 
pour forth oblations to the gods ; others have fancied them to be used to cover the 
breasts of the dea mater. All these speculations, I conceive, are untenable, as some 
of them have flat surfaces, instead of cups, consequently could not be used as pateree, 
as they would contain.no liquid whatever. 
The objections against their being fibule, are equally cogent ; a buckle, or fastening 
of gold, of fifty-six ounces weight, appears absurd ; besides, undoubted fibulz of the 
precious metals and brass are found in Ireland, in great quantities, of convenient and 
palpable shapes. 
Their peculiar form appear to render them incapable of application to any active 
operative purpose ; and the only conclusion which appears satisfactory as to their use 
is, that they were ingots of gold, or the larger species of the circulating medium, and 
but a variety of the ring-money. 
The following specimens will illustrate my notice of the transition from the straight 
wire to the ring, and from them to the larger ingots or gold money. 
‘This is the most common form of the smaller gold ring-money found in Ireland. They 
are made of pieces of gold wire formed into the required thickness, cut into lengths of 
equal weights, and then bent round into the shape above represented. I have seen 
