The Roman Wall: A historical, topographical, and descriptive account of the barrier of the lower isthmus, extending from the Tyne to the Solway, deduced from numerous personal surveysBruce, J. Collingwood (John Collingwood)
History
The Roman Wall: A historical, topographical, and descriptive account of the barrier of the lower isthmus, extending from the Tyne to the Solway, deduced from numerous personal surveys
Bruce, J. Collingwood (John Collingwood)
Great Britain -- Antiquities, Roman; Walls, Roman -- Great Britain
More frequently, however, the stone is entirely unadorned, as in this
example, which, along with [Illustration: Centurial Stone, Cilurnum] the
former, was removed from Walwick Chesters to Alnwick Castle. The letter
C, reversed thus Ↄ, or more frequently an angular mark resembling the
letter V, laid upon its side thus >, is the sign usually adopted for
_centuria_, century. Two centurial stones are shewn in the wood-cut
introduced in page 190. The upper one, that of Valerius Maximus, was
described, a century ago, by Horsley, who found it near
Haltwhistle-burn. Afterwards it was built up in a gable of the Cawfield
farm-house, against which a coal-shed was formed. Here, though sadly
begrimed, it was protected from further injury, until rescued by the
present owner of the farm, and safely deposited in the museum of
antiquities at Chesters.
COINS.
[Sidenote: NUMISMATIC REMAINS.]
Next in importance to the inscribed stones found on the line of the
Wall, the student of history will reckon the coins which the spade and
plough of the husbandman turn up in considerable numbers in the mural
region. In a rude state of society the commercial transactions of the
residents of a district are almost entirely confined to an interchange
of the commodities produced by each. A body of soldiery, however, liable
to be removed from place to place, and compelled to expend their
energies in unproductive industry, are necessarily obliged to resort to
the use of money. It is chiefly in the stations where the Roman legions
lodged, or on the roads which they traversed, that the imperial coin is
found. These metallic pieces, bearing the insignia of Rome, thus become
exceedingly important in tracking the march of Roman armies. As works of
art, the design and execution of many of them are truly admirable. The
copper coins of Hadrian are especially worthy of study. The custom which
prevailed during the best periods of the empire, of rendering the
circulating medium of the market-place the means of commemorating the
leading events of the day, gives them increased value. Were all the
other records of Roman story destroyed, its most stirring incidents
might be recovered by a careful examination of the coins which the
cabinets of the antiquary contain.
[Sidenote: COINS.]
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