C 79 3 
Carthaginians, or the Phcenicians, and the Romansj 
when the piece firft appeared, Befides the two above- 
mentioned charad:ers, there is a monogram, formed of 
the three Latin letters V, A, B, very indifferently pre- 
ferved, in the exergue, with which the Punic or Phoe- 
nician elements perfectly correfpond. Forthefecond of 
thofe elements is manifeftly the moft common Punic or 
Phoenician form of Beth, and I have many years 
fince proved the firft (2) to be a form of the Phoeni- 
cian and Samaritan Vau-, and (3) obferved, that 
though it fometimes anfwers to V confonant, it is like- 
wife not feldom taken for Beth, or B. Nor is this to be 
wondered at, as thofe two letters fo nearly in power 
approach one another. The middle element of the 
monogram. A, has nothing equivalent to it in the 
Punic or Phoenician infcription j that vowel, in 
conformity to the genius of the oriental orthogra- 
phy, between the two confonants, being there 
fupprcffed. But the two Punic or Phoenician cha- 
radfers, and the Latin monogram, clearly enough 
demonflrate the name of the town where the piece 
was flruck. The monogram feems to be preceded 
by a fort of date in the exergue,, which refembles the 
charadters l£XI, but, as thefe charadlers are ill pre- 
ferved and indiftindl, I believe the powers of them 
will not be fo eafily afcertained. 
From what has been here laid down, the learned 
will eafily admit the medal in queftion to have been 
ffruck at Vabar, a maritime city of Mauritania 
Caefarienfis, after that place had been ceded to the 
Romans, and was inhabited by them, and either the 
Carthaginians or the Phcenicians. Vabars i mention- 
(2) De Num. quibufd. Sam. et Phcen. Dijferi. ?• 73 > 74 - 
Oxon.‘ 1750. (3) Ibid. p. 74. ' 
7 ed 
