VOL. XX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 233 



Account of Books. 1 . Numisviata, a Discourse of Medals, Ancient and Modern ; 

 with some Account of Heads and Effigies of illustrious Persons, In Sculps, &c- 

 and a Digression on Physiognomy. By J. Evelin, Esq. S.R.S. l6g7, 

 inFol. ^"237, p. 57. 



The ingenious author of this treatise, who has so often obliged the world 

 with many useful pieces, cultivating and advancing as well natural philosophy as 

 other parts of learning and arts, has in this discourse given a learnetl account of 

 ancient and modern medals. He states, that having begun this work about five 

 years since, he desisted from prosecuting it, on the publishing of Mr. Walker's 

 treatise on the same subject ; but finding some particulars that admitted of a 

 further improvement, he resumed his design ; and, after a short introduction, 

 bewailing the failure of marbles, statues, trophies, &c. in perpetuating me- 

 morable actions, he begins his first chapter with the use of medals, either made 

 for money, or to preserve the memory of worthy actions ; observing their very 

 early use in the world, and that the first Roman money was brass, without any 

 marks at all ; he then shows the origin of stamping, which was for a testimonial 

 of the weight. The first silver stamped at Rome, was a little before the first 

 Punic war ; and gold not till about 62 years after, at which time the worth of 

 gold to silver was as 12-V to one, though in the earliest times it bore but a de- 

 cuple value among the Romans and Greeks. Next, speaking more particularly 

 of medals, he is of opinion, that they did not, when first made, pass for money, 

 but were stamped in memory of celebrated actions or persons. But on the 

 inundation of the Goths, the lustre of medals ended, with all the more polite 

 arts. Next he treats of the materials used for money, whether leather, paper, 

 earth, porcelain, coral, shells, linen, or the like. He next speaks of the time 

 when the several metals were first used, and thinks iron and copper were the 

 first, of which he gives several instances. Then he proceeds to consider the 

 impressions and sizes, of which latter there were three. 



The second chapter treats of the medals of several nations, and concludes 

 with a proposal of designing in dead life what medals of undoubted truth can 

 be procured ; and these to be well and exactly engraven on copper-plates. The 

 third chapter treats of ancient and modern reverses, as they relate to history, 

 chronology, and other parts of learning, the use and benefit whereof he shows 

 in several particulars. The fourth chapter treats of persons and things deserv- 

 ing the honour of medals, though most of them never obtained it ; and in this 

 he finds our nation too deficient. The fifth chapter is of incriptions on medals, 

 and their several forms and differences. In the 6th chapter he gives instructions 



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