[ S3I ] 
rlus, long before they were reduced Into the form of 
a Roman Province, by Vefpafian. When they did 
this, and whether they did it gradually, as may feem 
probable from fome Tetradrachms now remaining, is 
uncertain ; but that they did fo, fooner or later, can- 
not be doubted. 
Pliny and Scribonius Largus exprelly fay, the 
Attic Drachm was equal in weight to the Dena- 
rius (8) : and A. Gellius, who, having refided long 
at Athens, could not be ignorant of the value of the 
current money of that city, fays loooo Drachms 
were in Ropaan money, fo many Denarii (9). And 
the Attic gold coin above-mentioned, in the Britifli 
Mufeum, is a proof of their having reduced their 
money to the Roman ftandard. 
Thefe are the moft authentic teftimonies that the 
two Coins ever were equal ; for though all-.the 
Greek writers of Roman affairs, call the Denarius, 
Drachma, it is no proof of their equality ; for one 
being the current coin of Rome, as the other was of 
Athens, and not very unequal in value, a Greek 
might confider the Denarius, as the Drachma of 
Rome, and tranflate it by that word, which was 
familiar to his countrymen j as we call the French 
Ecu, or the Roman Scudo, a Crown j which hath 
. no more affinity to the French or Italian names> 
either in found or fignification, than Drachma hath 
to Denarius. 
(8) Pliny, Nat. at the end of L. XXI. Scr. Largus, i|t 
his Preface. 
(9) A. Gellius, L. I. c. 8. Hoc facit nummi noftratis Dena- 
rium decern millia. 
Y y y 2 But 
