Since I had the Happiness to see you at York, I have met with nothing that is rare, save some very fair Coins, or rather Impressions upon Clay, which the Reverend Mr. Clark (the Lady Campden's Lecturer at Wakefield) brought me, that he had happily rescued from some some Laborours, who in delving in Fields near Thorp, on the Hill found a considerable Number of them, at (740) first we could not imagine for what use they were desined, but upon a stricter view, it appears plainly, they were for the Coining, or rather Counterfeiting of the Roman Moneys, that wretched Art it seems being in vogue 1500 Years ago, for they are indisputably of that Antiquity, and are really very dexterously done; they have round the Impression a Rim, about half the thickness of the Roman Silver Penny, in each of which is a little Notch, which being join’d to the like Nick in the next, makes a round Orifice to poure in the Mettal; each of these has either Two Heads, or as many Reverses; so that placing one, for Example, with Alexander Severns'sSeverus's Head on one side, and his Mother Julia Mammœa's on the other, betwixt Two Pieces with Reverses, it compleats both; so that one with Heads, and another with Reverses, are placed alternatim for a considerable length, and then all passed over with an outer Coat of Clay, to keep the Metal from running out, and a little Ledge on either side the Orifice, to convey the Metal into the long row of Holes: They are all of Emperors about the same Age, when indeed the Roman Moneys were notoriously adulterated, as is observable in any Collection of their Coins, though some of them now are so scarce, particularly a Duodumenianus, that I question whether this Age can produce one to take a Copy of.

184. Hore beate Marie Virginis secundum usum Sarum; (amongst other Saints is Tho. Becket Archbishop of Canterbury.) Don. Rev. Edw. Clark M. A.

Certain Molds for counterfeiting the Roman Monies (that wretched Art it seems being in Vogue 1500 Years ago) found by the Labourers in delving at Thorp upon the Hill, near Lingwel-yate 1697. They are curious Impressions of their Coins upon very fine Clay, each hath a Rim half the Thickness of a Denarius on either Side the Piece with the Impression; and a Notch upon one Edge, which being joined with the like Nick on the next, makes a round Orifice to receive the Metal; each of these hath generally two Heads, or as many Reverses; so that placing one for Example, with Alex. Severus's Head on one Side, and his Mother Julia Mammea's on the other, betwixt two Pieces, with Reverses, it compleats both; so that one with Heads, and another with Reverses, are placed alternatim for a considerable Length, and then all pasted over with an outer Coat of Clay, and a little Ledge on either Side the Orifice to convey the Metal into the long Row of Holes; as appears by some thus placed that were presented to his Grace my late Lord Archbishop of Yorke: His Grace shewed me also a small Vessel of the same Materials, about the Bigness of the smallest sort of Crucibles for melting the Metal. All the legible Inscriptions I have met with are of Emperors about the same Age, when indeed the Roman Monies were notoriously adulterated, as is observable in any Collection of their Coins. Those that the Reverend Mr. Clarke, and Will. Ingram, of Thorp, Esq; procured for me, are inscribed, IVLIA. AVGVSTA, with her Head on one Side, and Severus's on the other, inscribed - - - - - PERT. AVG. IMP.VIII. Another hath IMP. IIII. A Piece with Reverses, hath CO S. I. P. P. with Victoria alata; and on the opposite Side, PM. TR. P. XXIII. COS. III. P P. with the Figure of one of the strange Beasts exhibited in the Publick Shews. One with Sev. Alexander's Head hath C. M. AVR. SEV. ALEXAND. AVG. Rev. PVDICTIA. The like upon a Severus. One with HILARITAS. on one Side, and ANNONA. AVG. on the other. Another hath a Victory on the Rev. of one of the Antonine's. Another TR. P. III. COS. III. and tranq VLITAS. a broken one hath only COS. II. PP. Another PM. TR. P. II. COS. Some of these are of a blew, others a while Clay, and all very dexterously performed, but whereas in the Phil. Trans. N° 234, it is questioned whether this Age could produce a genuine Diadumenianus, I must retract that Passage, for since that was printed the truly Noble Earl of Pembroke, shewed me one in his inestimable Musæum; and, if my Memory fail not, I saw another in that of the ingenious Sir Andrew Fountaine.