[ 3^0 ] 
Whether or no thefe Plates ever belonged to Shrines* 
I cannot venture to aflert; but I am rather inclined 
to think, they did not 5 except perhaps the firft, which 
from the Largenefs of its Size, and having no Image 
{lamped upon it, but only a writen Infcription in 
Honour of Mars, might poftibly have been laid over 
Part of a wooden Shrine, within which the brafs 
Image was placed, that was found with it. As for 
the reft, I imagine they were defigned as partial Re- 
prefentations of Shrines for the Ufc of private Per- 
fonsj having only the Front of them with the Image 
of the Deity placed in it ; which being fixed upon 
wooden Tablets might either be fet up in their 
Houfes, or carried about with them, in Devotion to 
thofe tutelar Deities. And when any fortunate Event 
happened, which they attributed to the Succefs of 
their Addrefies made to them, they might fometimes 
exprefs their Acknowledgement of it by hanging 
them up in their Temples, among other Donations, 
making them a fort of votive Tables. That they 
were intended for fome fuch IJfes feems the more 
probable, from the Number of them found together. 
They have a Similitude with the Reverfe of many 
Roman Coins, where the Images of their. Deities are 
reprefented in the fame Manner 5 from an Imitation 
of which they might perhaps be introduced at firft, 
as well for Cheapnefs, as ready Convenience, in 
fome of the more remote Provinces. And it is very 
remarkable, that no two Impreflionsupon thefe Plates 
are in all refpefls exactly alike j as we do not often 
meet with two Roman Coins ftruck from the fame 
Die. 
