[ 8o 2 ] 
to have been ufed. However, the fupputation point- 
ed out to us by the date on the Greek medal above- 
mentioned was undoubtedly made according to the 
cera of Seleucus ; fince otherwife the year exhibited 
by that date mud: have been nearly coincident with 
the 266th of Christ, which by thofe verfed in this 
kind of literature will never be allowed, for had 
the piece prefented to our view fo recent a date, as 
Sidon firft became a Roman colony in the reign of 
Elagabalus (37), above forty years before; the re- 
verfe ought to have been adorned with fome other let- 
ters intimating this, as were thofe of the Sidonian (38) 
coins poderior to that event. As certain is it that all 
the Phoenician medals of Sidon, whofe numeral cha- 
racters have been interpreted here, acknowledge no 
other epoch than the proper one of that city, which 
commenced in the year (39) of Rome 643. This, 
I flatter myfelf, from the following confiderations,. 
exclufive of others that might, with equal facility, 
be offered, will even to demondration appear. 
1. The fifth year mentioned by the olded of thefe 
coins cannot be the fifth year of the asra of Seleucus, 
becaufe the Sidonians were then fubjeCl to Antigonus 
(40), in whofe territories the fupputation according 
to that epoch did not take place ; and confequently 
the piece itfelf mud have been druck in the fifth 
( 37 ) J oan - Harduin. Op. Selett. p. 155, 156. Amft. 1709. 
Joan. Foy Vaillant BeTlovac. Numifmat. /Er. hnptrator. &c. Par. 
/fit. p. 97. Parifiis, 1695. 
(38) lidem ibid. & alib. 
(39) F. Henr. Nor. Veronenf. ubi fup. 
(40) Diod. Sic. lib. xix. Plutarch, in Demetr. Appian. in Syriac . 
year 
