ROMAN VILLAS DISCOVERED IN DORSET. 231 



a cluster of atoms. Coins of British kings are extant extend- 

 ing over the last 30 years B.C., which show an increasing 

 tendency towards Roman manners and art. The old barbaric 

 survivals of the Macedonian effigies disappear, classical 

 profiles are introduced, and the cornucopia, the eagle, and the 

 lion sometimes make their appearance. (Political History.) 

 It is interesting to note that the name of one of these kings, 

 Dumnobellaunus, is preserved in a monument at Angora, 

 in the heart of Asia Minor. On the side of a desolate Galatian 

 hill stand the ruins of a marble temple of ' Augustus and Rome,' 

 the walls of which bear an inscription recording the chief events 

 of the 56 years of Augustus' reign : "To me fled as suppliants 

 the Idngs of the Parthians . . . the kings of the Britons, 

 Dumnobellaunus and Tim . . .," the rest of the name 

 being obliterated. (Political History p. 27.) 



While speaking of coins it is well to remember that even 

 the civilised world has only recently, so to speak, produced 

 coinage. It was in the 7th century B.C. that the Lydians in 

 Asia Minor introduced a stamped coinage, replacing the 

 unstamped, weighed metal of the Babylonians. (Encyc. 

 Brit.) So the Britons were not so very far behind the times, 

 and they would prove apt pupils under Roman tutelage. 

 British coins have been found, one of Allectus and one of 

 Victorinus, on the site of the British village on Boveridge 

 Down (Ancient Dorset p. 22), 20 of bronze or copper on 

 Minchington Down, and others in various parts of the county 

 (p. 279). Hod Hill furnished several British coins (p. 154) 

 besides Roman from Augustus to Trajan. Dorchester is 

 credited with but few, a gold coin from Maiden Castle, a large 

 silver, a base silver, and a bronze (Dorch. Antiq. p. 48) but 

 Roman coins are plentiful, from Augustus to Trajan. Coins 

 from Gordian to Postumus have been found at Preston. 



But if the Briton learned many good things from the Roman, 

 we cannot blind our eyes to the fact that, in all probability, 

 he also learned some bad things. It is painfully certain that, 

 along with their civilisation, they would impart also their 

 vices. So far fortunately we have not to my knowledge 



