MINING OPERATIONS OF THE ROMANS. 23 



taiued the surnames Parthicus and Adiabenicus : also, 

 that tliis pig of lead was cast between the time of bis 

 assumption of the title Adiabenicus and the time of his 

 death, i. e., between 195 and 211. 



M. Canat does not attempt to interpret the letters 

 LVICVC ; but with respect to the last inscription he 

 remarks, that the accent, by which the two first letters are 

 separated from the third, indicates, that they denote 

 nuinbers, and that P Stands for PONDO. He conse- 

 quently reads it 550 pound. In support of this expla- 

 nation he farther states, that, whereas the name of 

 the Ernperor is in relief, having been impressed upon 

 the mould, which was probably of clay, the two shorter 

 inscriptions have been impressed upon the lead, after it was 

 taken out of the mould. It was then weighed, and its 

 weight was stamped upon it. Nevertheless we do not 

 know what unit was meant in this instance by the letter 

 P. It commonly denoted so many libros ; but this does 

 not at all suit the present circumstances. M. Canat con- 

 jectures that it here denoted the semis or half-libra. 



The actual weight of the pig is 86 kilogrammes and 3 

 hectogrammes, agreeing with the larger specimens found in 

 England, and agreeing also with the mark upon the lead, 

 if M. Canat's interpretation of the letter P be admitted, 

 and the Roman libra be supposed equal to 324 grammes ; 

 for 550 half-libra?, so estimated, amount to 89 kilogrammes 

 and 1 hectogramme. The loss of 2 kilogrammes and 8 

 hectogrammes may very well be ascribed to accident, 

 waste, or abrasion. 



It is concluded, from all these circumstances, that the 

 entire inscription on the first specimen was, 



IMP. L. SEPTIMI. SEVERI. PERTI 

 NACIS. AVG. PARTHICI . . . . , 



VOL. VIII., 1858, PART II. D 



