

XXI. 



An address was given by Rev. Sir Talbot Baker on " Facts or Fancies gathered 

 at Rome, of some interest to Dorset folk." 



The address contained various matters with regard to buildings in Rome which 

 had some connection with this country, and especially Dorset ; amongst others 

 the finding of a jar of English coins. This jar was found in 1884-5 in excavating 

 a mediaeval house near the Forum, which was built of portions of an earlier 

 house of The Vestal Virgins, according to Lanciani. The jar was of terra cotta, 

 and contained 835 small silver coins " pennies" and one gold coin. The silver 

 coins were all stamped with the names of Anglo Saxon Kings, beginning with 

 Alfred and going on to Athelstau, the founder of Milton Abbey and, perhaps, 

 Athelhampton. He was a great coiner, and very much improved the mints and 

 coinage. He called a Synod at Greatley, between Salisbury and Andover, and 

 decided that there should be certain mints, including Shaftesbury, Wareham, and 

 Dorchester, where coining should be carried on, but not elsewhere, under a 

 penalty of the loss of the right hand. Shaftesbury was the largest of these. Of 

 the coins 390 bore Athelstau's name and his rude image, and several scores were 

 also stamped with the name of the mint Shaftesbury. The jar bore the inscrip- 

 tion in raised letters DOMINO MARINO PAPA, which would refer it to the 

 end of the 10th century, A.D., 970-90. It would seem therefore probable that 

 these coins were paid as Peter's pence by some Dorset landowner of that period. 



The meeting broke up at about 4.30 p.m. 



THE SECOND INDOOR MEETING was held in the Reading Room of the County 

 Museum on Monday, Feb. 26th, 1900, at noon, the President being in the chair. 

 About 40 members and friends were present. 



NEW MEMBERS. Four were proposed, and out of six balloted for five were 

 elected. 



NATIONAL TRUST SUB- COMMITTEE. The following were appointed to act as a 

 sub-committee of the Club to represent Dorset in connection with " The National 

 Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty" : Lyme, Mr. L. B. 

 Clarence, Axminster ; Beammster, Sir H. Peto, Bart. ; Bridport, the Rev. H. S. 

 Solly ; Sherborne, Canon Mayo, Longburton ; Maiden Newton, Mr. John Brown ; 

 Dorchester, Mr. H. J. Moule and Captain J. E. Acland ; Portesham, Dr. Colley 

 March and Colonel R. Williams, M.P. ; Weymouth, Mr. N. M. Richardson ; 

 Portland, Mr. Wallis ; Osmington, Colonel Hall; Lulworth, the Rev. W. P. 

 Schuster ; Purbeck, Mr. Eustace Bankes ; Parkstone, Captain G. R. Elwes ; 

 Blaudford, Mr. Mansel-Pleydell, Sir Talbot Baker, Bart., the Rev. J. Penny, 

 Tan-ant Rushton, and the Rev. T. Perkins, Turuworth ; Wimbome, Mr. W. J. 

 Fletcher ; Buckland Newton, Rev. Canon H. E. Ravenhill ; Shaftesbury, Mr. E. 

 Doran Webb, Salisbury ; and Bloxworth, the Rev. O. P. Cambridge, with 

 power to add to their number. Dr. H. Colley March (Portesham, Dorchester), 

 eventually undertook the post of Hon. Secretary of the Sub- Committee. 



GENERAL BUSINESS. The following publications, lately received, were laid on 

 the ta.ble and presented by the Club to the Dorset County Museum ; 



