CHAP. V. 



THE PRECIOUS METALS. 143 



probably be preserved in the stores of the chief 

 of the tribe or family as stock in reserve, to be 

 retained as a sacred deposit, and to be applied 

 only on an emergency of a pressing nature, such 

 as the obtaining arms on occasion of an attack 

 from an enemy, or to present as an offering to 

 their deities to avert or to remove some general 

 calamity. Whilst thus chiefly wanted for war 

 or for superstition, it would be found necessary 

 by all means to add to the stores. By one of 

 the oldest laws of Athens, it was ordained that 

 a thousand talents should be set apart yearly for 

 defence against foreign invasion, and whoever 

 proposed to apply it to any other purpose ren- 

 dered himself liable to the punishment of death. 



The hoarding of treasure for purposes of 

 general defence, which began in the patriarchal 

 state of mankind, was continued when larger 

 communities were formed, and was perhaps 

 universally practised by all who governed states 

 or kingdoms, whether under the monarchical 

 form, or under any of the several varieties of 

 aristocracy which prevailed in the ancient 

 world. 



As it is probable that the far largest portion 

 of the gold and silver of the ancient world was 

 thus kept from circulating through many hands, 

 there would be none of that consumption of 

 them by friction by which coined money is now 



