[ 804 ] 
no other than the new one of the Sidonians, that com- 
menced in the feventh century of Rome. 
4. That the dates vifible on thefe coins were fup- 
puted according to the latter epoch of Sidon, will 
be manifeft from an examination of the Greek and 
Phoenician brafs medals of that city explained, in (44) 
the beginning of this paper; whofe type and work- 
manfhip are extremely fimilar, if not almoft intirely 
the lame. For this circumftance is to me an evident 
proof, that they could not have been ftruck at very 
diftant times. Now if we take the Greek coin to 
have followed the aera of Seleucus, as was undoubt- 
edly the cafe, and the others that peculiar to Sidon ; 
the firfl of the Phoenician dates (45) will not be prior 
to the Greek one above fifty-three years, nor the lait 
of them precede it above forty-three years. Whereas 
if we fuppofe the numeral infcriptions in the exergues 
of the Phoenician Sidonian coins to have been fupputed 
according to the Seleucian epoch, the difference be- 
tween the aforefaid dates will be five times as much ; 
which with the fimilarity of workmanfhip and type, 
already obferved, will be altogether incompatible. 
5. As the Jews (46), about the time that the firff 
of our medals was ftruck, denominated the aera of 
Seleucus, THE /ERA OF THE KINGDOM OF 
THE GREEKS ; we cannot well doubt but it went 
amongfi: the Sidonians, who were neighbours to the 
Jews, under the fame denomination. From whence 
it will follow, that the epoch ftyled by them em- 
phatically, THE /ERA OF SIDON, muff have 
been different from the aera of Seleucus ; and conic - 
(44) See above, p. 793, 794. 
(45) Erafm Frocl. ubi fup. p. 101. 
(46) 1. Maccab. i. io. 
quently 
