[ 182 ] 
been remarked by fome good authors (25). That 
the Greeks alfo expreffied the Schin by their Sigma , 
and fuperadded another termination to fuch words, 
is Sufficiently manifeft from the Perfian, or Parthian, 
Arshak (26), which was converted into Arsaces 
by the Greek writers. I muft farther obferve, that, 
according to Herodotus (27), the antient letters of the 
Perfians were thofe ufed by the Affyrians ; which I 
take to have been the fame with the elements that 
prevailed amongff the Syrians, and formed the alpha- 
bet of the Palmyrenes. Nay, we may colled: from 
(28) Epiphanius, that a considerable part of the Per- 
sians ufed the Palmyrene charaders as late as the de- 
cline of the fourth century after Christ. All which 
being maturely weighed, I cannot forbear thinking the 
interpretation of the Parthian legend here laid down 
in a good degree probable. I am far however from 
infixing upon the truth of it. I ffiall only beg to be 
indulged the liberty of propoling it to the confidera- 
tion of our moft illuftrious Society, and leave the 
fate of it intirely to the deciiion of fo very eminent 
a part of the learned world. 
4. But however my explication of the Parthian 
legend may be received, I believe it will Scarce be 
denied, that the coin was ftruck in the reign of 
Monnefes, one of the Parthian kings j this point 
(25) Scalig. Prolegom. in Lib. de Emend. Temp. p. 41. Col. 
Allobrog. 1629. & Can. Ifag. f. 317 . Matth. Hiller, ubi fup. p. 
619, 620. 
(26) Mofes Chorenenf. Hiji. Armen. Lib. ii. iii. Theopnil. Si- 
gefr. Bayer. Hiji. Ofrhoen. £ 5 ?c. p. 97. Petropoli, 1734. 
(27) Herodot. Lib. iv. c. 87. 
(28) Epiphan. Adv, Hcer. Lib. ii. Tom. ii. p. 629. Parif. 1622. 
s having 
