Leamington
28 Feb^y 1862

Dear Sir

Accept my best thanks for your note of yesterday.

Till the question of what constitutes money – and what coins – is settled, it seems difficult to carry on argument –; and this my much admired and regarded friend M^r Hawkins, formerly Keeper of the Antiquities – Brit: Mus: said. This point I had for many years to battle about; the numismatists pure being unwilling to concede to me that bullion of given weight, and even where marked, was money – but at length M^r Akerman admitted in an article which I sent to you, that penannular bullion rings could not be looked upon in any other light. But by coins, numismatists understand what I term medal money – that is, a piece with obverse and reverse impress, to indicate the country by which issued, and in some degree responsible for its value – its weight and purity; – further, its sphere of circulation. The devices were also, to a great extent, not merely indicative of such objects, but had a religious character, by which to protect the piece from mutilation.

I am aware the Romans used and valued copper as money; but I am inclined to think the As Libralis was a necessity, from the poverty of the state; and though they may have derived the art from Etruria, they copied greek [sic] coins of silver in brass, of which I have specimens. I do not mean in size, but device –

There is one point in your translation which I wish to obtain an explanation of – namely to what city was Sargons proclamation addressed? Was it to a conquered city, as it appears as if to a fresh people? Would you kindly give me your opinion.

This morning I received a note from our friend M^r Vaux, to whom I shewed a copy of my letter to you – he says – “Will you let your reply be printed in the Numismatic Chronicle. It seems to me to be just the place for it.” I had, before yours arrived, said, I could not do so without your permission – may I ask therefore if you would object to such printing – If you allowed this, I should like to add in a note your explanation of what you understand by coins – it is as follows “By Coins I do not mean necessarily figured images, such as for instance a lion’s head. I should consider lumps of silver marked with their value, as coins, provided the mark was made by a stamp.”

I am not aware any such lumps have ever been found.

That the Assyrians had weights of bronze (lion-shaped) I know – and this is an explanation of the passage where Jacob is said to have bought a piece of ground for 100 pieces (margin, lambs) or silver. And in an Egyptian painting – a weight is seen, in weighing rings of gold, of the shape of an animal.

The favour of a reply would oblige, Dear Sir Yours truly
W B Dickinson

[envelope:]
H. Fox Talbot Esqre,
Millburn Tower,
Edinburgh.