406 
ANTIQUITIES 
great part of that large area. Instead of pots of coins, as 
they expected, they found great heaps, the one lying on the 
other, as if shot out of a bag, many of which were in good 
preservation. Silver and gold these inquirers expected to 
find ; but their discoveries consisted solely of many hundreds 
of Roman copper coins, and some medallions, all of the 
lower empire. There was not much virtu stirring at that 
time in this neighljourhood; however, some of the gentry 
and clergy around bought what pleased them best, and 
some dozens fell to the share of the author. 
The owners at first held their commodity at a high price ; 
but finding that they were not likely to meet with dealers 
at such a rate, they soon lowered their terms, and sold the 
fairest as tkey could. The coins that were rejected became 
current, and passed for farthings at the petty ^hops. Of 
those that we saw, the greater part were of Marcus Aurelius, 
and the Empress Faustina, his wife, the father and mother 
of Commodus. Some of Faustina were in high relief, and 
exhibited a very agreeable set of features, which probably 
resembled that lady, who was more celebrated for her 
beauty than for her virtues. The medallions in general 
were of a paler colour than the coins. To pretend to 
account for the means of tKeir coming to this place would 
be spending time in conjecture. The spot, I think, could 
not be a Roman camp, because it is commanded by hills on 
two sides ; nor does it show the least traces of intrench- 
ments ; nor can I suppose that it was a Roman town, be- 
cause I have too good an opinion of the taste and judgment 
of those polished conquerors to imagine that they would 
settle on so barren and dreary a waste. 
