MEDALS and COINS. 245 



The learned comprehend thefc two obje&s, 

 which form an important part of literature, 

 under the denomination of Res Nummaria, or 

 Numiihiatica. 



II. It is certain, that in the mo ft ancient 

 times, all commerce was carried on by barter. 

 There was always a necefllty, however, for a 

 fort of common meafurc, by which they eftimat- 

 ed the value of commodities. The firft inhabi- 

 tants of the earth were almoft all fcepherds and 

 huibandmen: they therefore made that common 

 meafure to confift of a certain portion of their 

 flocks, which was confidered tanquam pretium 

 eminent: and any commodity was laid to be 

 worth fo many oxen, fheep, &c. as is confirmed 

 by Gellius, Noftes Attic** 1. xi. c. j. In procck of 

 time, they found it more expedient to exprefs 

 the value of mod commodities, by bits of lea- 

 ther, which by their marks ihowcd the number 

 of beads they were worth. This was the firft 

 money, and the origin of all coins. Hiftory 

 fays pofitively, that Numa Pompilius caufcd 

 money to be made of wood and leather : ancl 

 from hence came the Latin word pecunia. Caf- 

 fiodorus fays Hkewife in exprefs terms : Pecunia 

 tnim a pecudis tergo nominate, Gallis auftoribus, fine 

 figno ad met alia tranjlata eft. I Ic 

 .Id affibus fcorteis in the tenth book. 



III. M f \'.\ found tlie mod incorruptible 



of all fubdanccs, they afcerwardfl in. i 



bits 



