406 ANTIQUITIES 



great part of that large area. Instead of pots of coins, as 

 they expected, they found great heaps, the one lying on the 

 other, as if shot out of a bag, many of which were in good 

 preservation. Silver and gold these inquirers expected to 

 find ; but their discoveries consisted solely of many hundreds 

 of Roman copper coins, and some medallions, all of the 

 lower empire. There was not much virtu stirring at that 

 time in this neighbourhood ; however, some of the gentry 

 and clergy around bought what pleased them best, and 

 some dozens fell to the share of the author. 



The owners at first held their commodity at a high price ; 

 but finding that they were not likely to meet with dealers 

 at such a rate, they soon lowered their terms, and sold the 

 fairest as they could. The coins that were rejected became 

 current, and passed for farthings at the pettf .shops. Of 

 those that we saw, the greater part were of Marcus Aurelius, 

 and the Empress Faustina, his wife, the father and mother 

 of Commodus. Some of Faustina were in high relief, and 

 exhibited a very agreeable set of features, which probably 

 resembled that lady, who was more celebrated for her 

 beauty than for her virtues. The medallions in general 

 were of a paler colour than the coins. To pretend to 

 account for the means of their coming to this place would 

 be spending time in conjecture. The spot, I think, could 

 not be a Roman camp, because it is commanded by hills on 

 two sides ; nor does it show the least traces of intrench- 

 ments ; nor can I suppose that it was a Roman town, be- 

 cause I have too good an opinion of the taste and judgment 

 of those polished conquerors to imagine that they would 

 settle on so barren and dreary a waste. 



