374 Remarks on some lately-discovered Roman Gold Coins. [No. 5. 



were provincial and colonial mints established in various parts of the 

 Roman dominions. This system was however greatly modified under 

 the Emperors and even those who were permitted to coin their own 

 money were obliged to have the head of some Emperor or some 

 member of his family stamped upon the coin and never their own 

 images. Julius Ceesar was the first person whose actual portrait while 

 living was stamped upon the public money and from his time the 

 practice became general. 



Thus it will be seen that the Romans had established a regular 

 system for the coinage and necessary circulation of gold, silver and 

 other monies as extensive as the bounds of the empire itself, and destin- 

 ed to carry this distinctive mark of wealth and civilization to the 

 remotest limits of the known world. 



We will now consider, in a brief and somewhat imperfect sketch, to 

 what extent and in what manner the Roman trade first arose and was 

 subsequently carried on with the countries of the East, and more espe- 

 cially with that part of India, to which we would more exclusively 

 refer — the Malabar Coast : and also what degree of information the 

 Romans actually possessed of this part of the country, and what kind 

 of commodities were chiefly sought after for their luxury or use. 



Previous to their conquest of Egypt the Romans derived the benefits 

 of Eastern commerce indirectly from the merchants of that country, 

 who under the reign of Alexander and the Ptolemies monopolized the 

 entire trade of India and the adjacent countries. Besides this route, 

 the articles of Indian produce and manufacture were imported into 

 Europe by a longer and more tedious way than that of the Red sea. 

 Being brought in vessels up the Persian Gulf and Euphrates, they were 

 conveyed thence across land to Palmyra, then the grand Emporium of 

 Eastern commerce, and which in its central position became an impor- 

 tant place from its flourishing and prosperous trade. From Palmyra 

 the goods were carried to the different ports of Syria, and thence dis- 

 tributed to the various countries bordering on the Mediterranean sea. 

 At last the Romans, having subjected Greece and Syria to their sway, 

 and overcome the Republic of Carthage, made a descent upon Egypt, 

 which soon yielded to the force of their arms, and from this time that 

 rich and celebrated country was transformed into a Roman province. 

 This happened during the reign of Augustus, and about thirty years 

 before the birth of Christ. 



