[ 356 ] 
initial letter of Ardlhir, Ardfchir, or Artaxerxes, the 
name of the prince in whofe reign, and by whole 
command, the piece was ftruck. This, if allowed, 
will be an additional proof of the truth of what has 
been here advanced, relative to the time in which 
the medal firft appeared, as well as to the occafion 
of that appearance, hinted at above. It is certain, 
fuch initial letters fometiines reprefcnted the names of 
kings and great men amongfl; (32) the Greeks, who 
were neighbours to the Perlians, and were imitated 
by them in lev^eral particulars, even as early as the 
year wherein I believe this coin to have been ftruck. 
This obfervation will throw no inconhderable light 
Hpon what I would now propofe to the confideration 
of thofe that are the beft verfcd in this branch of 
literature, and render my elucidation of the medal 
before me, as well as of the others confidered here, 
not altogether unworthy the attention of the learned. 
V. 
The liftli medal (fee T ab. XIII. n. 6.) is extremely 
limilarto the fourth, but very ill preferved (33). The 
learned world the perufal of a little piece lately publiflied highly 
meriting their attention; the ingenious author of which, a moft 
valuable member of our UniverTity, though a very young man, 
is at leaft a match for M. Anquetil, in the knowledge of the 
Arabic, Perfic, Turkifli, &c. languages, as well as other branches 
of oriental literature, and feems to have done him tolerable 
juftice, by giving us a clear and adequate idea of this performance. 
However, 1 may poflibly hold him up to the public, in his proper 
colours, on fome future occafion. 
(32) Erafm. Frcel. Element. Numijtn. Ant. p. 138, 142. 
Viennae, Pragae, et Tergefti, 1758. 
(33) I lhall beg leave in litis place to remark, that we find a 
noble Perfian filver medallion (fee Tab. Xlll. n. 7.), publiflied 
by M, Pellerin, with a Perfian monarch, in a triumphal car, drawn 
* Ltitrt m AUrifimr du P — — , I.ondret, J77*- 
former. 
