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Personal ornaments found in a grave at Sarre, with
the contents of Plates III. and IV. It is not unlikely they may have
been arranged, by the lady who owned them, for a necklace, much in the
same manner as they are grouped in the Plate. The gold, coins enumerated
in chronological order, are as follows
1. Obv. ?N MAVIIAPPAHO. As No. 2, but of very rude
workmanship.
Rev. VIC OR AVGGVI . CONOB. As No. 2, but with the letters M. R.
2. Obv. DN MAVRIC RPPAVG-. The head of Mauricius
Tiberius wearing the diadem, to the right.
Rev. VICTORIA AVGGVI CI ? A cross upon a globe dividing the
letters MA and the numerals XXI.
3. Obv. ERAC..VS INP. Diademed bust of Heraclius, to
the right.
Rev. VICTO.. With letters transposed and illegible; a barbarous
copy of the reverse of the coins
of Heraclius, reading Victoria
Augusti. Cross upon a globe, as in No. 2.
4. Obv. CHLOTARIVS RX. Diademed bust of
Chlotaire, to the right.
Rev. VICTVRIA CHLOTARI ? Cross and globe, as in No.
1.
The first word of the reverse of this coin is without doubt
Victuria for Victoria; the second, though at first sight
it would appear barbarous and unintelligible, when read from left to
right appears intended for Chlotarii. The reverse of No. 4 is the
first on the left in the plate.
The letters M A on the reverse of these solicli indicate
the mint of Marseilles. These letters and the rude execution of the
coins bearing the names of the Byzantine emperors, show that they are
copies struck in Gaul. In the centre hangs the gold pendant referred
to in the foregoing letter. The beads are of glass and coloured clay,
with the exception of the two which terminate the necklace: they are
of amethystine quartz. To the practised numismatist the engraving of
these coins will present no difficulty when collated with the text;
but it may be observed that the artist in drawing, only arranged them
partially in chronological order, and he reversed the necklace, so
that the reverse of No. 1 is that on the extreme right of the lower
row: the second obverse is that of Heraclius, No. 3 in the text, to
which the third on the lower row (from left to right) is the reverse.
As third, the artist has placed the second coin of Mauricius, to which
the second reverse applies; and the obverse of Chlotaire, the first on
the right, requires for its reverse the first on the left of the lower
line. I am indebted to Mr. Vaux for impressions of the coins.
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