_R._ Figure of a horse, extravagantly drawn and decorated, and with ornaments or gear of some kind above and below. Often the mane of the horse is arranged and curled, as if specially so dressed for parade or show, and almost suggests decorations as still sometimes adopted by American Indian or other barbarian chiefs. There are reins, too, in some instances, and these are sometimes held by a rough representation of an arm and hand. The legs of the horse always indicate gallopping. The symbols underneath it are usually either (1) the wild boar, as perhaps indicative of the most important local wild beast in the chase; (2) the chariot wheel, as representing that the horse would draw this vehicle, there not being room to show the whole on the coin fully and in rear of the horse; (3) the implement described by Sir John Evans[B] as a "lyre-shaped object." It would be most interesting to ascertain what this instrument--which is frequently delineated--may really be. It might be a musical production of the bagpipe character, or a head-dress, or a warlike weapon. An extensive museum or collection of very ancient implements should solve the problem. [B] "The Coins of the Ancient Britons." By Sir John Evans, K.C.B., F.S.A., F.G.S. Published by J. Russell Smith, 36, Soho Square, London. As regards the metal of which the coins are made, Sir John Evans, at page 128 of his work, states as follows:-- "These coins are formed of _billon_ or base silver, which appears to vary considerably in the amount of its alloy. From an analysis made by De Caylus (Donop. Medailles Gallo Gaeeliques, page 24) of two coins, their compositions were found to be as follows:-- A. B. Silver .0413 .1770 Copper .8414 .7954 Tin .1166 .0265 Iron .0005 .0009 Gold .0002 .0002 ------ ------ 1.0000 1.0000 "The weight of the larger pieces ranges from 80 to 105 grains, and that of the smaller coins is about 25 grains." It will be observed from the above analysis how considerably the proportions of the white metals, as silver and tin, vary in these coins, and this variation, as regards metallic composition, is so universal that amongst a large number in the same "find" you will even, on cleaning the coins, see some of them look as if made of silver, and the colour vary, until you reach some that appear hardly better than wholly of copper. It would be very interesting to know where the metal or ore for these coinages was procured from. There must have been a natural mixture of most of the metals.