STATER OF PHILIP OF MACEDON. Q$ 



VI. 



The Slater of Philip, if>e Fatherof Alexander ; or Remarks 

 on the Purity or Standard of Gold : By Mr. J. FAB3RONI, 

 of Florence, Corresponding Member of the French 

 Institute*, . 



ATURALISTS, perhaps on the authority of Pliny Native gold 

 (l)f, are almost unanimous in the assertion, that native ? never to 

 gold is never found perfectly pure, or free from all alloy, 

 particularly of silver ; and that the finest is scarcely from 

 0*875 to 0*917, that is from 21 to 22 carats. The gold dust Gold dust fron» 

 brought from Africa is commonly within these limits. I Africa. 

 have seen some at 0*927, or 22 carats and a quarter £ ; and 

 lately there has been some at 0*956, or 23 carats, brought 

 from Morocco to the mint at Florence. (In Tuscany the 

 carat is divided into eighths.) 



It is probable, that in the early ages money was coined of Ancient co : ns 

 native gold, in the state in which it was found ; for there fr °™ nalhe 

 could be no inducement to incur the trouble and expense of 

 refining it. 



The most ancient gold coin known is supposed to be that Most ancient 

 ofBattusIV, cast or struck at Cyrene, in Africa, inthe* nown * 

 time of Pisistratus. Its fineness dpes not appear to be 

 known. Of all the Grecian coins found in our cabinet* of Olden Greek, 

 medals the most ancient are the beautiful pieces of Philip, th ° s ? of 

 father of Alexander. This enterprising man, who from his ' ' P ' 

 infancy looked forward to ascend the throne of Macedon 

 and become master of Greece, had the good fortune to find 

 some rich gold mines, which he knew how to work to great H« mines, 

 advantage. Mount Pangaeus furnished him annually to 

 the amount of 6300000 Florence lirj [,£218750]. Hence 

 he derived the most powerful instrument of the success of 

 his political designs and military talents. Whether the gold 

 of Philip underwent any particular operations, before it was 



• Ann. d« Chim., vol. LXXII, p. 25. 



■jr The figures refer to notes by Mr. d' Arcet at the end of the paper. 



^ Tfbis gold is found chiefly in the country of Bambouck. 



sent 



