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Document number: 5498
Date: 28 Jul 1862
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: DICKINSON William Binley
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number historic: Acc 22161 (envelope only)
Last updated: 26th March 2014

Leamington
28 July 1862.

Dear Sir

I have delayed replying to your kind favour of the 22nd till I had made some investigation into the point suggested by you from Schindler’s Lexicon, <1> as to his interpretation of “[Hebrew characters]” being – “Argentum signatum“ quod erat moneta –”. Were the word signatum conceded, the question would be settled much beyond the word moneta; for moneta might well signify simple money, not coined money. But I am led to believe that the expression [Hebrew text] implies “The “weighed out” – money –. As in the Greek of the passage – “and they gave the money prepared ie when it was ready – counted &c – in English “told“[.] I am informed the verb [Hebrew text] of which [Hebrew text] ([hebrew] definite article) is according to Gesenius – 1. to make even, To level, 2 to weigh, to poise –; 3 to set up or fix, by a level; and he refers to this particular passage (2. Kings xii) “to be weighed out” (money). There is in the hebrew [sic] text no idea of marking or stamping [illegible] signatum but only of measuring by weighing. – There is in the 13 verse a statement which at once shews in what state the money (silver) was, namely in bullion, fit for the silver smiths work – for it speaks of not using it to make thereof vessels, but to pay for the repairs of the Temple.

Having, as I trust, now proved that Schindler has arrived at an unwarrantable conclusion, from being ignorant of numismatics, I must next very respectfully request you to pursue the subject, for the question of the exact state of currency prior to coinage is a most interesting one. I am not able to investigate the cuneitic inscriptions, but I can understand that in them there may be vast means of settling historical points; of giving us glimpses into the at present dark recesses of antiquity; and therefore I am anxious not to say a word calculated to weaken such researches.

Pardon me if I have exceeded the bounds of deferential respect to you, and

believe me to remain, My Dear Sir Yours truly
W B Dickinson

To H. F. Talbot Esqre

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqre
Millburn Tower
Edinburgh


Notes:

1. Valentin Schindler (1543-1604), German philologist and Orientalist; Lexicon Pentaglottum, Hebraicum, Chaldaicum, Syriacum, Talmudico-Rabbinicum, & Arabicum (Hanover: Typis Joannnis Jacobi Hennei, 1612).

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