TETRADRACHM OF SARDANAPALUS.

A SILVER Tetradrachm in the British Museum, size 18 American scale (Mionnet 9), has the head of King Antiochus VIII Epiphanes (B. C. 140) on the obverse without any inscription: but on the reverse is an edifice or shrine with the inscription on either side in vertical columns

Α ΜΕ ΕΠΙΦΑΝΟΥΣ on the left, and ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑΝΤΙΟΧΟΥ on the right, each in two lines.

The monument in the centre has a basement consisting of a lofty podium with plinth, die and cornice; the die is occupied by a large central panel, in which are suspended three festoons with four pendants at the points of suspension. From this pedestal rises a pyramidal mass, at the summit of which the margins on either side assume the forms of volutes with a disk between them; up above, other similar volutes are formed without the disk. Then comes a circular pedestal, on which sits an eagle with outstretched wings. The panel of the pyramid is filled in with a bas-relief, representing at the base an animal supposed by some to be a lion with goat's horns. Before and behind it is a cap, like those of the Dioscuri, similar to the ones on a medal of Berenice, wife of Ptolemy Euergetes, and which have not as yet been accounted for by any antiquarian or numismatist. Above the animal rises a figure with his outstretched right arm, in action resembling the Roman emperor when addressing an allocution to the soldiery or populace. In his left the figure holds some object as though transfixed on a sword. Behind him is a parazonium. From his shoulder floats, as it were, a robe or mantle, or as has been suggested, a quiver with arrows and the bow. The head has a long beard and a species of cap surmounted in front by a small figure, recalling altogether the character of an Assyrian monarch on the Nineveh sculptures.

Until within a few years these tetradrachms were unknown, but a considerable number were discovered near Tarsus in Cilicia, thus connecting them immediately with the city, the brass coins of which were already known to possess the same emblem. There is a large variety of this type from Antiochus VIII Epiphanes to Demetrius II Nikator (A.D. 200) whose medal bears the inscription

ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ · ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ · ΝΙΚΑΤΟΡΟΣ

Strabo mentions Anchiale, which was about a day's journey from Tarsus, as situate a little above the sea, and Aristobulus states it to have been built by Sardanapalus, and that there was there a monument of Sardanapalus, the stone image of whom showed the fingers of the right hand as though they were snapping. There were, he observes, who said that there was inscribed in Assyrian characters the following sentence: - Sardanapalus, son of Anacyndaraxes, built Anchiale and Tarsus in one day, but do you, O stranger, eat, drink, and play, for all these are not worth that (a snap of the fingers.) After which are quoted six hexameter Greek verses, a lengthened paraphrase of the exhortation.

Athenæus gives another story about a monument of Sardanapalus, the inscription on which recorded that he built the two cities in one day "but is now dead," which suggests a less profane reflection than the former.

Arrian, who copies his description of the same monument from the writers of the age of Alexander, mentions the figure as having the hands joined in clapping. (Smith, "Geogr. Dict." sub voce Anchiale.)

Colonel Leake in his "Numismata Hellenica, Asiatic Greece," p. 129, describes these coins; and in his "European Greece," p. 28, he notices the bronze coins of Tarsus, on which appears the same identical monument, placed under an arched canopy, which is upborne by a human figure at each end, as though the group formed the shrine in a temple. These date as recently as the third century.

Sardanapalus seems to have been deified, apparently by the Assyrians, and had a place given him in the same temple with the Babylonian Venus at Hierapolis, the holy city. Smith (Biogr. Dict.) alludes to the identity of the god Sandon and the king

Sardanapalus, which was first asserted by K. O. Müller, supported with further arguments by Movers.

It appears, therefore, that the inhabitants of Anchiale had erected a tomb to their founder, and that at Tarsus also there was a shrine made to assume the firm proportions and features of the tomb erected to his memory, and which may possibly have been similar to the one erected at Nineveh or elsewhere in Assyria. Hence the reason of the adoption of the type on the bronze coins of Tarsus and on the silver tetradrachms of the race of the Antiochi.

The form of this edifice is of peculiar interest, being of a type prevalent in those parts, the earliest of which were the stepped mounds of Assyria, in Nineveh, the city of Sardanapalus, and Babylon, etc. After these in chronological series came the Pyramids of Egypt, some of them also stepped, others with a smooth revetment. Then we have the description of the tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus as given by Pliny, having a lower peristyle, above which rose a pyramidal stepped roof crowned on the summit by the king in his chariot. All these show an unity of design. But of these examples this pyramid alone had an inscription, unless the one recorded by Herodotus on the pyramid of Ghizeh be admitted, and certainly our medal is the only record of a sculptured surface.

Col. Leake and others consider without a doubt, that the figure stands upon the animal; and Layard in his "Nineveh and its Remains" (8vo, London, 1849, p. 456), gives a plate of the Hera or the Assyrian Venus from a rock tablet near the ancient Pterium, showing a figure standing on an animal, which occurs also on a medal.

Another remarkable feature, connecting such a monument with the rogus of the Romans, that is the arrangement of the square pedestal with its central panel and festoons, exactly corresponds with the like distribution in the pyre of Antoninus on another piece; and the eagle on the summit with outstretched wings is identical with the eagle which was let loose and flew away as the imperial corpse was consuming. Hence we may presume that the Roman pyre in its design was a tradition adopted from the East.

The Æ and ME are merely the marks of the mint-masters. This dates previously to the Roman rule and far before the Christian era, and is the earliest medal extant which bears an architectural monument.

TERMS USED IN DESCRIBING COINS.

HOBLER, in "Records of Roman History," seems to have been the first to give the more striking colors of the coins he describes. Such expressions as the following are extremely life-like and convey an excellent idea of the specimens: "A fine green coin," "a good bronze brown coin," "a good brown coin," "a good, mottled green Campana coin," "a good, mottled green and red Campana coin," "a fine, dark-green coin," "a good coin, mottled red and green," "a fine water, gold-colored Campana coin," "a red Cyrian copper coin," "a fine, gold-colored Campana coin," "a beautiful Campana green coin," "a beautiful, red-bronze Campana coin," "a very beautiful Campana green-bronze coin," "a very good black coin," "a red coin," "a very palegreen color," "a beautiful grass-green Campana coin," "a fine Campana coin, glossy black, mingled with green,' "raw sienna or drab coin," "a beautiful, pale, dove-color, Campana coin,' a purple coin, with green, Campana tinge,' “reddish or pale-orange color," reddish-brown coin,' "fine, emerald-green color," "mottled red green," "extraordinarily beautiful purple-violet patina. Some of these expressions are not altogether clear to us, but upon the whole they give an additional vividness to coin descriptions.

EX.

WASHINGTON MEDALS.

By the kindness of Mr. LYMAN H. Low, of New York, we are enabled to supply full descriptions of the various Medals which were struck for the Centennial of the Inauguration of Washington, and to illustrate two of them in the present number of the Fournal. A priced descriptive Catalogue of these medals can be obtained on application to the Scott Stamp and Coin Company, 12 East Twenty-third Street, New York City.

I. Obverse. Bust of Washington, to left. Legend, divided, pater PATRIÆ | M.D.CCLXXXIX. Behind the bust the fasces. In exergue, GEORGE WASHINGTON. 13 stars around the border. Reverse. Heraldic eagle. Inscription in fourteen lines, E PLVRIBVS VNVM | TO | COMMEMORATE THE INAVGVRATION OF | GEORGE WASHINGTON | AS FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE | VNITED STATES OF AMERICA | AT NEW YORK. APRIL XXXTH | MDCCLXXXIX-BY | AVTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE ON CELEBRATION NEW YORK | APRIL XXXTH | MDCCCLXXXIX Pendant from a bar inscribed NEW YORK 1789-Gw (script)-1889. Bronze, size 22. From dies. The finest and rarest medal struck, commemorating the occasion; it has never been on sale, but was distributed to members of the Committee only. Designed by Augustus Saint Gaudens.

II. Same design as the preceding, but cast in bronze, size 70. This is the medal that was on sale by authority of the Committee.

THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN. ·

III. Obverse. Head of Washington to left, within a five-pointed star, around the edge of which, NEW YORK—CITY—APRIL 30TH-1889 | FIRST IN WAR-FIRST IN PEACE-AND FIRST-IN The whole upon a circular, radiated field. Reverse. Blank. Pendant from a bar, with a shield at either end; above, a spread eagle. On the bar CENTENNIAL | INAUGURATION with ribbon. White metal, oxidized. Size 31.

IV. Obverse. Bust of Washington, three-quarters facing within an oval circle of dots. Legend, GEO WASHINGTON FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE U. S. Below the oval, 1789. Reverse. Busts of the President and Vice President facing, each in an oval; on a label between, HARRISON AND MORTON. Above is a shield. Below, 1889. Pendant from a bar inscribed CENTENNIAL, Connected by a ribbon, with a second bar inscribed INAUGURAL. White metal, bronzed, and also gilt and oxidized. See plate. Size 24.

V. Obverse. Equestrian Statue of Washington. Legend, CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE INAUGURATION; above the statue, GEORGE WASHINGTON 1789-1889. Reverse. Inscription, SOLDIER'S MEDAL-PARTICIPATED. Pierced, with ring, ribbon and pin attached. White metal gilt. Size 26.

VI. Obverse. Bust to right. Legend, GEORGE Reverse. WASHINGTON INAUGURAL NEW YORK

WASHINGTON Plain raised border. APRIL 30 1889. Within a wreath, front view of the building in which the ceremonies took place in 1789. FEDERAL HALL | WALL ST. Pierced, with eagle and pin. White metal, size 26.

VII. Obverse. Bust to right. Legend, GEORGE WASHINGTON. In exergue, 1789. Reverse. Double circle around the border, CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE INAUGURATION NEW YORK APRIL 30 1789-FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. In the field, Arms of New York within a wreath. Pierced and mounted with eagle and pin. White metal. Size 23.

VIII. Obverse. Head to left. 1789-1889. Reverse. Inscription in five lines, SOUVENIR | OF THE | CENTENNIAL | FESTIVAL | APRIL 1889 Pierced, with ribbon. White metal. Size 25. IX. Obverse. Bust three-quarters facing, in oval. Legend, GEORGE WASHINGTON FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES ★ In exergue, 1789. Reverse. Washington taking the oath CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF HIS INAUGURATION NEW YORK ★. In exergue, in two lines, APRIL 30 | 1889. White metal. Size 32. Frequently pierced, and pendant by a ribbon from a bar, as III.

X. Obverse. Head to left. Above, GEORGE WASHINGTON; beneath, in two lines, First PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES | INAUGURATED APRIL 30, 1789. Reverse. A circle of thirteen links upon which are letters abbreviating the names of the original States. In the centre, the sun on an eleven-pointed star, backed by a radiated star of thirteen points. Legend, CENTENNIAL OF THE INAUGURATION OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 30 1889 within a circle of 42 small stars. Bronzed. White metal. Size 34.

XI. Obverse. Naked bust to right. Legend upon a broad raised border, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and at the bottom, DEO PATRIÆque fidelIS The border is engrailed with thirteen arches, and a star in each point. Reverse. View of the Brooklyn Bridge and East River; above is the radiant sun and HÆC OLIM MEMINISSE JUVABIT and beneath, the arms of New York city upon a mantling of crossed flags from which spring olive branches. Legend in double line, around two-thirds of border, TO COMMEMORATE THE WASHINGTON INAUGURAL CENTENNIAL | NEW YORK CITY 1789 — APRIL 30-1889. Bronze and white metal. Size 33. (Dies by Lovett). See plate.

The ribbons used with all these medals were usually the national colors, red, white and blue, arranged in perpendicular stripes.

THE PASSION FOR COLLECTING.

THE Saturday Review says that when the late Sir Henry Holland was a very old man he regretted that in early life he had not taken to collecting, and he touched off its advantages in a few neat sentences. "The interest," he remarked, "is one which augments with its gratification, is never exhausted by completion, and often survives when the more tumultuous business or enjoyments of life have passed away." In short, he placed collecting where our fathers used to place whist. The young man who does not collect will be miserable when he is old. The inexhaustibility of the object adds immensely to the advantages of collecting. When Heber had all or nearly all the rare books he knew of, he began to gather duplicates. The print collector in the same way begins with ordinary impressions. He thinks he can get together a complete set of some master, perhaps, and succeeds pretty well until in an evil — or shall we say a happy?-hour he comes upon a proof. Then all must be proofs. First states are rare, but all must be first states. As his eye grows in knowledge he perceives that no two impressions are exactly alike, and that while one is good for this feature, another is good for that. Against the particular collector may be set the universal; but universal collecting has a serious drawback. It seldom approaches completion in any one branch. The omniverous collector is, as a rule, too easily pleased. It is impossible that he should be an equally good judge of all the things he buys — coins, gems, ivories, bronzes, embroideries, Elzevirs, pictures, scarabs, porcelains, etchings, and so on. A grain of special knowledge will be more useful than a catholic appreciation of the beautiful in every form.

THE MYSTERY OF COINS.

EVERY coin has its story of human use, could it but speak. It has passed through hands long since reduced to dust, but the coin survives. It has been the purchase price of necessaries and of luxuries, the wages of the laborer and the pay of the soldier. Robbers perhaps have stolen it, perhaps have gained it at the expense of human life. It has been buried around the flag staff on some battle field, or lost in some peril of the traveller, or buried in the earth by some miserly hand whence the rain-wash has exhumed it, or the ploughshare, or the spade and pick excavating for a foundation wall. What incidents could any ancient piece add to the history of ages had an audible voice been given to it! Possibly it fell from the hand of an Emperor, as he scattered his gifts on his coronation day; perhaps it was the last stake of some gamester, by which he sought to recover his wasted fortune. What journeys it may have taken; what distress it may have relieved; what pleasure it may have given. Imagination fails in attempting to trace its possible experiences.