[ +Sr ] 
'ifeem to be of this fort. The eighth weighs 266 
grains; and by having the weight put to it, and not 
to either of the other two in the fame plate, I fuppofe 
it is well preferved, and perhaps perfect. Thefe 
and the above mentioned have an olive branch 
coming from the edge to the owl ; and both, by the 
rudenefs of the work, fhould be older than the 
time of Pericles, under whofe adminiftration 
fculpture flourilhed at Athens. 
The work of a third fort is more elegant, though 
not highly finifhed. Its diameter is equal to that of 
an Englifh half crown. The face of Minerva is 
beautiful; the owl Hands on an oil bottle, and is en- 
compalTed by two olive branches, and, befides the in- 
fcription AGE, hath fome monograms and lymbols 
near the owl. 
A fourth fort, of the fame lize, is generally higher 
finifhed ; and befides the infcription AGE, hath inftead 
of the monograms, a name or names about the owl, 
perhaps of the mint-mafters, or, as Mr. Stuart con- 
jectures, of the owners of the mine that produced 
the filver. Thefe like wife have commonly fome 
fymbol near the owl. Some of them have a letter on 
the belly of the oil bottle, and two letters under it, 
as it were in an exergue. They feem to be of a later 
date than the laft mentioned ; for none that I have 
feen have the E for H, or the O for Xi in the names, 
though they retain the E in AGE; but the long vowels 
did not come into ufe at Athens till after the Pelo- 
ponnefian war, as appears by inferiptions now remain- 
VOL. LXI. Qji q ing. 
