190 
JOUKNAL or THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
The above facts prove, I think, that, at least in the neighbour- 
hood of Plymouth, the fertilization of the Primrose need not 
depend "almost exclusively on moths," since we have here so 
many other insects that habitually visit it. 
T. E. Archer I^riggs. 
^, Portland Villas, Phjmouth. 
SOME ANCIENT JETTONS POUND IN PLYMOUTH. 
Sir, — Many years since a brass Abbey- piece, if of an inch in 
diameter, was dug up in the field adjoining this house, the design 
and legend of which are very, if not quite, similar to the photograph 
No. 4 in the Society's last Eeport, and it may as justly be called a 
Devon as a "Norfolk" Jetton. 
The figure of the ship on the pieces taken from the site of the 
new Guildhall is, I fear, not sufiicient proof that these were really 
Plymouth Abbey- pieces, as such a device was often on our early 
coins; and Pinkerton. says that those silver touch -pieces which 
were hung round the necks of those whom the king touched for 
the evil had a ship on one side and St. Michael on the other. 
If the ships on the Abbey- pieces and in the ancient arms of our 
town were similar, then there could be little doubt that these were 
the Jettons of our Monastery; but this, I think, is scarcely the 
case, as by the MS. in the British Museum the ship borne on our 
shield had three masts, without yards or sails, with a fire -beacon 
on the main-top. 
Clearly Nos. 1 and 2 are not struck from the same die. 
Does Snelling speak of pieces like Nos. 1 and 2 in his work on 
"Counters"? 
Akerman gives the legend on No. 3 as "ave maria gracia pii." 
Believe me. Sir, faithfully, 
T. H. Mitchell. 
Eton Villa, Plymouth, Nov. 16th, 1871. 
