26 STATER Or PHILIP OP MACE90N. 



Eng. # ; which, from a comparison with the preceding, would 

 give for the drachma 87*9 Flor. grs ; still a Tittle lighter, 

 but very near what we have assigned, or 88 grs.; without its 

 being necessary to estimate the wear, in sapport of six simi- 

 lar weights in an equal number of gold staters, and witli 

 Weight ac- tne p ro ©f of the fraction mentioned. The celebrated Barr 

 Boihdwui. *^eTemi found, from various weighings, that the drachma 

 was precisely 81 T French grs [66*55 grs v E.], which would 

 give about 87*75 Flor. grs. But he would presume a loss of 

 seven eighths of a grain for the wear of 2200 years, and 

 thus gratuitously make the drachma equal to 82 Fr. grs, or 

 88*5 of ours. It is probable however, that he carries his 

 estimate too high. We should altogether reject from our 

 calculations all allowance for wear ; because, by admitting 

 $-.,*er drachma ^>iis, we may draw any vague conclusions we. please. The 

 weight of 88 grs [66-8 grs E.] is confirmed by a silver 

 drachma of the same Philip, likewise preserved in the Flo- 

 rence cabinet. On the obverse is the* he*ad of Hercules, 

 without a beard, and covered with the lion's skin ; aud on 

 the reverse Jupiter seated, with the eagle on his right hand, 

 and a spear in his left. It is distinguished from others by a 

 Silver hewi- lyre and the letter A beneath the seat. The accuracy of the 

 drachma, weight of this drachma is confirmed by its half, also in silver, 

 of the same king, which weighs exactly 44 grs. This has 

 the head of Jupiter, ornamented with the diadem ; and on 

 the reverse is a figure on horseback* with the name in the 

 exergue, and nr mark that cannot be made out. Besides, 

 Tctradrach- there are four tetradrachmas of Alexander, of the same 

 m3 &* metal, the faces and reverses of which are similar ; which, 



weighing all alike 14 den. 16 grs, farther prove the weight 

 of the drachma to be 88 grs. These tetradrachmas are dis- 

 Mint marks, tinguished by various marks, as was said of the staters. One 

 has in the fore part a lamp, and under the seat a moon and 

 a star : another has in the same place the initial T with a 

 circumflex over it, and under the seat the letter E: a third. 

 has a buckler, and under the seat a serpent : the fourth has 

 a crown, and under the seat a monogram, composed of an 



* There is evidently some mistake here ; but, as I do not knoW the 

 •precise weight of the Dutch grain, I shall lenye it a> in the original. C ' 



M 



