ETRUSCAN ANTIQUITIES. 331 



MRS. F. 



No Etruscan coin in silver is known, and very few circular 

 coins are found; but Plutarch says that the most ancient 

 money was in rods of brass or iron, cut off at certain lengths 

 and marked VI, XII, &c. A number of these broken and 

 figured bars have been discovered; from their different lengths 

 it is evident that the balls or knobs, whether placed on the 

 stem, or between the branches, indicated the value of the bar. 

 Several had six balls or fruits; many had three: some of the 

 larger pieces have also double knobs. This seems a most 

 simple and natural, and not an inelegant manner of producing 

 the effect of coinage, and the mystery is at once explained of 

 the early Etruscan money, and the existence of so many pieces 

 of stamped metal as have been found from time to time in the 

 country. The more we enter into the study of the remains 

 of Etruria the more interesting it becomes, and time and 

 further investigation may probably throw more light upon its 

 history, and enable the learned to decide upon the oft-disputed 

 point of whether it is to Egypt that we are trace the first 

 origin of Etruscan arts and civilisation. 



