l6 ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF BRITISH MUSEUM. 



Fifteen Musical Instruments from China ; presented by his Excellency Sir John Bowring. 

 A collection of Spear Heads from Nipal; presented by Dr. Murray. 



B. Coins and Medals. — ^I'he following table shows the number, and classification, of the 



acquisitions under this head : — 



•^ Gold. Silver. Copper. 



Qreek 10 - - 87 - - 133 



Roman- 129 - - 18 - - 147 



Byzantine - - - - " 3-- 1-- 19 



Oriental 24 - - 46 - - 132 



Mediseval and") _ _ _ _ 54 . . 328 - - 499 

 Modern / 



220 480 930=1,630 



To these must be added five Cufic Glass Coins. Of these, 6.j2 remain unregistered. 

 Mr. Roach Smith's Collection of London Antiquities comprises a large number of Roman 

 Coins, which, with the exception of two included in the above enumeration, it is proposed 

 to place witli the Antiquities, either as duplicates of examples in the Medal Room, or as too 

 ill preserved for the Numismatic series. 



The Sardinian Collection formed by SIgnor Cara likewise contains a considerable 

 number of Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Coins, which will be treated in the same manner 

 as those just mentioned, for the same reasons. 



These two collections are therefore excluded from the enumeration given above. 



The acquisitions of the past year, though less numerous than in some former years, com- 

 prise an unusual number of examples of the highest importance. 



In the Greek series the following Coins may be specified : — A Pentadrachm, or, possibly. 

 Medallion, of Hieronymus, King of Syracuse, of extreme rarity ; a Didrachm of Lete in 

 Macedonia, presenting a new variety of type ; three fine Tetradrachms of the Kings of 

 Bithynia ; a Hemidrachm of Pixodarus, King of Caria, of a new type; a fine Cistophorus 

 of Laodiceea in Phrygia ; a Tetradrachm of Antiochus the Great, King of Syria, struck in 

 Bactriana ; three Tetradrachms of Euthydemus, one of Antimachus, and one of Demetrius, 

 severally. Kings of Bactriana: the last of these is believed to be unique. The series of 

 Greek Coins struck under Roman government has been enriched by the purchase of Off 

 Copper Coins of Alexandria in Egypt, in the finest preservation, including an unpublished 

 one of Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus, one of Julia Paula, Annia Faustina, Julia Msesa 

 and Tranquillina respectively, and two of Gordianus I., Africanus. 



The most important addition to the Roman series has been made in the purchase of 116 

 Aurei taken from a larger number found in the Regency of Tunis. All these, excepting one, 

 which was selected on account of its rarity as a " restored coin," are in the highest 

 possible condition. Among them may be specified, on account of their rarity, ten Aurei of' 

 Commodus, and five of Crispina; and, for their great beauty, many of those of Antoninus 

 Pius, and of the two Faustinas. Among the Roman Gold Coins acquired may be also par- 

 ticularised an Aureus of Tetricus and his son, believed to be unique, and another of Maxi- 

 mianus I., struck at London. The most important additions to the Copper series are an 

 unique third brass coin of Carausius, with a full-faced portrait; and 77 specimens of Coins 

 of the same class, struck during the reign of Constantine the Great, and his immediate, 

 successors, the result of the examination of aboard lately found in Sussex. 



The most valuable addition to the Oriental series is an ancient Persian Silver Coin of an 

 extremely rare type, nearly resembling two already in the Collection which were procured 

 from Mr. Rich. The Parthian series has also been improved ; while to the Modern Oriental 

 class considerable additions have been made, especially to the cabinets of Ommiade,- 

 Georgian, Persian, Tunisian, and Cufic glass money. 



The additions to the Mediaeval and Modern part of the Collection comprise many impor- 

 tant coins. The series of Ostrogoths in Italy, Visigoths in Spain, and Vandals of Carthage, 

 have been improved. To the Spanish Coins have been added four in Gold, two of Henry III. 

 of Castile, and two of John II. of Arragon ; and to the Belgian, several coins of the Bishops 

 of Liege, from the tenth to the thirteenth century. The Swiss Collection has been greatly ■ 

 improved, especially by the gift, by F. de Salis, Esq., of a large Gold Coin of Ulrich von 

 Federspiel, Bishop of Coire (1692-1728), a Gold Testoon of the Canton Lucerne, and a Silver 

 Coin of Gubert de Sabs, all rare, and the seconri extremely so. A Denier and Obole of 

 Bishop Conrad of Geneva (1038), of the greatest rarity, have been acquired by purchase. 

 In the Italian series may be specified a rare Coin of Como; and additions of importance 

 to the Coins of Naples and Sicily, to the Papal money, particularly a Silver Coin of Cle- 

 ment VII. by Benvenuto Cellini, to the money of Savoy, and to that of Venice. In the 

 German series, the Coins of the Dukes of Bohemia, of the City and Archiepiscopate of 

 Cologne, of the Archiepiscopate of Treves, and of the Teutonic Order, have received valuable, 

 additions. 



The English Collection has been enriched by the acquisition of Mr. Roach Smith's series 

 of London Tokens. 



*^* The number of visitors to the Medal Room from Christmas 1855 to Christmas 1855 

 has been 2,299, showing an inciease of 853 on the number of the preceding year. 



Edward Hawkins. 

 Natural 



