196 Mr. Harris’ account of copper coins. 
They all bear the same stamp, on thin copper plate, cut, or rather 
broken into square pieces, with rough edges; and are considerably 
corroded by rust. 
I have searched all the books of coins and medals in the College 
Library, but can find none, which contain any in the least resembling 
these. There is however in the “ Histori-Geographical description of 
Russia, Siberia, and Great Tartary, by Philip John von Strablenburg,” 
page 406, Tab. xxi, letter A, the figure of a coin, which I have copi- 
ed, Fig. 18, in size, shape, and impression so similar, as to demand 
some attention. He says, that “ it was found in Great Tartary,” that 
“the characters were presented to the public as a great rarity by M. 
Bandelot,” and that the print and description of it was first pub- 
lished in the German tongue in a book, entitled “ Das eroeffnete Rit 
ter Platz, (im andern a des geoeffneten Antiquitéten, Zimmersy, ) 
ne a _ 
Tf America was first peopled by emigrations from Siberia and Ta 
tary, as may be inferred from the square and circular ramparts and ¢ oo 
nical sepulchral mounds, scattered through the whole Western Territo- 
ry down to Mexico and Peru, eacaetly similar in form, dimensions, ant 
contents to those described by M. Pallas and other travellers into “the 
northern parts of the- Russian empire, raised by nations no Jonger 
known there, and evidences of their having inhabited and traversed re+ 
gions now become i immense forests ; and from inscriptions on rocks on 
the banks of the Ohio and at Taunton, very like to those on the Jene- 
Sci, delineated by Strahlenburg ;—may we not trace this ancient coi 
to the same source ? But this I leave to farther investigation, and 
subscribe myself with much respect, | ‘ swathed 
your friend and bumbleservant, 
THADDEUS MASON HARRI» 
