To the tenth or the eleventh century are also to be referred certain small silver coins--“something between counters and money,” as is observed by Pinkerton--which are impressed, on one side only, with a kind of Runic monogram. They are formed of very thin pieces of silver; and it has been supposed that the impression was produced from wooden dies. They are known to collectors as “_nummi bracteati_”--tinsel money; and Pinkerton, mistaking the Runic character for the Christian cross, says that “most of them are ecclesiastic.” He is perhaps nearer the truth when he adds that they “belong to the tenth century, and are commonly found in Germany, and the northern kingdoms of Sweden and Denmark.”[I-20] The four following copies from the original coins in the Brennerian collection are given by Peringskiold, in his “Annotations on the Life of Theodoric,” previously referred to. The characters on the three first he reads as the letters EIR, OIR, and AIR, respectively, and considers them to be intended to represent the name of Eric the Victorious. The characters on the fourth he reads as EIM, and applies them to Emund Annosus, the nephew of Eric the Victorious, who succeeded to the Sueo-Gothic throne in 1051; about which time, through the influence of the monks, the ancient Runic characters were exchanged for Roman. [Footnote I-20: Essay on Medals, pp. 144, 145. Edit. 1784.] [Illustration] [Illustration: NICOLAUS FERENTERIUS, 1236] The notaries of succeeding times, who on their admission were required to use a distinctive sign or notarial mark in witnessing an instrument, continued occasionally to employ the stencil in affixing their “sign;” although their use of the stamp for that purpose appears to have been more general. In some of those marks or stamps the name of the notary does not appear, and in others a small space is left in order that it might afterwards be inserted with a pen. The annexed monogram was the official mark of an Italian notary, Nicolaus Ferenterius, who lived in 1236.[I-21] [Footnote I-21: It it given by Gatterer in his “Elementa Artis Diplomaticæ,” p. 166; [4to. Gottingæ, 1765;] who refers to Muratori, Antiquit. Italiæ Medii Ævi, t. vi. p. 9.] The three following cuts represent impressions of German notarial stamps. The first is that of Jacobus Arnaldus, 1345; the second that of Johannes Meynersen, 1435; and the third that of Johannes Calvis, 1521.[I-22] [Footnote I-22: These stamps are copied from “D. E. Baringii Clavis Diplomatica,” 4to. Hanoveræ, 1754. There is a work expressly treating of the use of the Diplomatic Stamp--J. C. C. Oelrichs de Stampilla Diplomatica, folio, Wismariæ, 1762, which I have not been able to obtain a sight of.] [Illustration: JACOBUS ARNALDUS, 1345.] [Illustration: JOHANNES MEYNERSEN, 1435.] [Illustration: JOHANNES CALVIS, 1521.]