1871.] 225 [Dubois. 
waters whose current set in from the N. W., changing its course only 
when in contact with some (then) eminence now far below the surface. 
The soil is seldom over three feet in thickness, usually underlaid by a yel- 
low hard-pan of two to three feet. Wood is quite common at all depths 
at which wells have been sunk in blue clay. 
“Nothing has been found in any of the Western mounds (as far as I 
am informed) bearing any resemblance in form or character to this coin. 
‘‘On taking the coin from the auger, I washed the clay from it with 
water. It then presented no appearance of corrosion, bearing a dull red 
hue, such as is common to old copper. However, after a few minutes, 
exposure to the air, it began to blacken, and in a short time was en- 
crusted with a dark green, gummy coat, which I allowed to harden, and 
then removed by friction.’’ : 
Thus far from Mr. Moiiit. I learn from another source, that Chillicothe 
is built upon an alluvium of the Illinois river, very sandy, loose, and easily 
washed away. The river thereabouts is widened into a lake, about one 
mile and a quarter wide, and twelve miles long. The French pioneers 
went through that region, about the close of the seventeenth century. 
Whether the ground on which Chillicothe stands, has been made by the 
river, to the depth of 125 feet, since the entrance of the whites, is a point 
on which the residents there, with or without geological instruction, can- 
not venture an opinion. 
As to the facts as above stated, there isevery reason to rely upon their 
accuracy. Ihave to add some remarks on the physical and artistical 
traits of the coin itself. : 
‘ Properly speaking, it is not a coén or medal, since the marks upon it 
have not been produced by striking, but by engraving or etching; and 
they are sunken, or intaglio. It is of copper in good condition, in shape 
polygonal approaching to circular, about one and an eighth inch in 
diameter ; somewhat pitted by corrosions, and with very rude figures and 
inscriptions ou both sides. The central image on one side is that of a 
man, or a child; on the other are two animals, one of them like a wild 
cat, with conspicuous ears. The legends are plain enough, to any one 
who can read them; but being somewhere between Arabic and Phono- 
graphic, without being either, they are sufficiently puzzling. Happily 
we have members whose knowledge of paleography may throw some 
light. For myself, I have seen nothing like it. 
As to the other artistic characters, the metal proves, by a delicate gauge, 
to be very uniform in thiékness ; more so than could be attained by the 
beating out of a hammer in savage hands. I therefore feel sure it has 
passed through a rolling-mill ; and if the ancient Indians had such a con- 
trivance, it must have been pre-historic. 
There are other tokens of the machine shop. Any one can see that the 
piece has been shaped, not with much symmetry, with shears or chisel ; 
and the sharp edge taken down with a file. Coins or medals were not 
thus finished in ancient times, but they were in the middle ages, andin 
A. P. 8.—VOL. XII—2¢. 
