ACCOUNTS, ESTIMATES, &C. OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 29 



L. Mnssidius; a Vitellius with his father; a Vespasiaiius, with the heads of his two sons; 

 two coins of Pertinax, both extremely rare: a Didius Julianus ; two coins of Clodsus 

 Albinus; an Herennius Etniscus ; many rare specimens of the Gallic usurpers; a maonificent 

 medallion of Diocletianus, unique in size and condition; a small medallion of Coiistan- 

 tius Chlorus; a full-faced coin of Licinius ; medallions of Constantius II., Gratianus, and 

 Honorius 11., respectively; and many rare specimens of the coins of the Lower Empire, 

 and of the Byzantine period. 



In Silver. — A collection of the rare restorations by Trajanus, together with 2;ood speci- 

 mens of the class of coins struck by the Italians and Samnites during the Social War, 

 A.U.C. 6G4-5. 



In Bronze. — A very rare medallion of Commodus; and a considerable num! er of large 

 brass coins of the early em|;erors. 



Of the Greek series from the collection of the Due de Blacas, the most important are, a 

 rich series of the iEs grave of Upper and Central Italy, with a few pieces of the same class 

 fi'om Apulia ; a very fine Siculo-Punic dodecadrachm ; with many valuable coins of 

 Neapolis, Tarentum, Heraclea, Posidonia, Terina, and Croton. 



Other remarkable coins received during- 1866 are the following: — 



A denier of the Abbey of St. Martial, at Limoges. 



Two scarce billon coins of the Canton Vallais, struck during the Republic of a.d. 1628. 

 A rare gold coin of Emanuel Pinf.o, Grand Master of Malta. 

 A medal of Henri Chiistophe as Emperor of Hayti. 

 An unique silver medal of Richard de Harington. 

 A very rare Indo-Scythic gold coin. 

 A very rare gold com of Maximianus. 

 An unique silver medallion of Volusianus. 



A rare gold coin of Ranuccio 1., Duke of Piacenza, A.D.1593-1G22. 



A very remarkable gold medal of Queen Elizabeth, probably struck in commemoration 

 of the defeat of the Armada. 



A rare gold medal of John George L, Elector of Saxony, a.d. 1611-56. 



2278 persons have visited the Medal Room during the year 1866. 



W. S. W. Vaux. 



The Blacas Muheum. 



This Museum, purchased at Paris in she month of November last, was principally formed 

 by the father of the late Due de Blacas, who was French Ambassador at Rome and at 

 JNaples for many years, and who was distinguished for his knowledge of ancient art and 

 also for the liberal manner in which he promoted archaeological studies as the President 

 of the Institute of Archseological Correspondence at Rome. His official position at Rome 

 and Naples, his ample fortune, and his high reputation as a connoisseur, gave him advan- 

 tages as a collector of antiquities such as few foreigners resident in Italy have possessed. 



After his death in 18.39, his Museum passed into the hands of his son, the late Due de 

 Blacas, a worthy successor to this noble inheritance, who possessed the same refined taste 

 for archajology as his father, and devoted himself especially to the study of Numismatics, 

 having been engaged up to the date of his death in the translation of Mommsen's work 

 on Roman coins. 



He enriched his father's collections by many valuable purchases, and, with the assistance 

 of his friend, the Baron de VVitte, prepared the text and illustrations of a magnificent work 

 in which he intended to publish all the more remarkable objects in his collections. 



The Museum formed under such favourable auspices by two generations may be classi- 

 fied under the following heads : — 



(1.) Gems. 



(2.) Greek Fictile Vases. 



(3.) Roman Mural Paintings. 



(4.) Greek and Roman Terracottas. 



(5.) Greek and Roman Glass. 



(6.) Silver Toilet Service of a Roman Bride. 



(7.) Gold Ornaments. 



(8.) Coins. 



(9.) Bronzes. 

 (10.) Sculpture. 

 (11.) Inscriptions. 



249. E 2 (12.) Miscellaneous 



