23 
COMMUNICATIONS 
TO THE 
MONTHLY MEETINGS, 
1859 . 
March 1 . —The Rev. John Kenrick read a paper “ On a Coin 
of Mariniana” presented by T. S. Noble, Esq. Mr. Kenrick remarked 
that the imperial personage whose image appears on this coin, is 
absolutely unknown to History. Vaillant invented a pleasing romance, 
that she was the wife of the unfortunate Emperor Valerian, who was 
taken prisoner by Sapor, King of Persia, and that having died in 
captivity, her son Valerian II. honoured her memory by striking this 
coin. But this romance, like many others, has been destroyed by the 
merciless hand of the chronologer. From a date on one of the medals, 
it appears that she must have died six years before Valerian’s Persian 
expedition. As Valerian was twice married, and his sons, Gallienus 
and Valerian, were only half-brothers, it is probable that she was his 
second wife. 
The coin forming the subject of this communication is of debased 
silver, and of rude execution ; the form of the letters is unclassical. 
These characteristics suit the age in which it was produced. The 
days were evil. The succession to the imperial throne was the subject 
of perpetual wars ; the barbarians from time to time ravaged the 
provinces, and a pestilence, which began in a. d. 252, visited, in the 
course of fifteen years, every part of the ancient world. 
Mr. W. S. Dallas read a paper “ On Foraminifera,” with especial 
reference to a small collection of fossils belonging to this group, 
presented by Mr. E. W. Dallas. He stated that his principal object 
was to call the attention of those members of the Society who were 
attached to the study of Natural History, to a most interesting class 
of objects. After describing some of the forms assumed by the minute 
but beautiful chambered shells formed by the animals of this group, 
Mr. Dallas indicated the difierent views which had been entertained 
