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You can search through the full text of this book on the web \n\nat |http : //books . google . com/| \n\n\n\n\nALCHEMICAL MEDALS. \n\n\n\nCONTRIBUTIONS \n\n\n\nOF \n\n\n\nAlchemy to Numismatics \n\n\n\nBy henry CARRINGTON BOLTON, Ph. D. \n\n\n\nREM) BEFORK THE NEW YORK NUMISMATIC AND ARCH/EOLOGICAL SOCIETY, DEC. 5, 1889. \n\n\n\n-\u00bb < \u2666 \u00bb ^- \n\n\n\nAUTHOR'S EDITION. \n\nNEW YORK. \n\n1890. \n\n\n\n\nOne Hundred and Seventv-Five Copies, \nReprinted from the American Journal of Numismatics. \n\n\n\nPRELUDE. \n\n\n\n3 EAD is worth about five cents per pound and gold about three hundred \ndollars per pound orOwit thousand times as much. Even though the \nprocess be costly, the conversion of the base metal into the precious one \nwould yield a fabulous profit. This transformation has been accomplished by the few \nwho have discovered or inherited the precious secret ; to attain it the only requisites \nare industry and piety, therefore we shall devote our lives to the undertaking. \n\nSuch was4t-oiu:\u00ab the creed and the goal of the alchemists for more than five \ncenturies. Is-it-possible to imagine a more attractive belief, a more enticing occupa- \ntion-?-, \n\n\n\n\n253998 \n\n\n\nCONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \nNUMISMATICS. \n\n\n\n\nVHE doctrine of the transmutation of metals prevailed \nin many nations at an early period of their intellectual \ndevelopment. It seems to have been an outgrowth of \nprimitive notions concerning the constitution of matter, \none element or principle being regarded as fundamental \nand capable of giving birth to the others. Water, air. \nfire and earth were severally regarded as the first prin- \nciples of all things by Greek philosophers, and these \nfour were adopted by Aristotle. He held, moreover, that these elements are \nmutually convertible, each having two qualities, one of which was common \nto some other element. Thus he wrote : \n\nFire is hoi ,incl dry. \nAir is liftt and moisi. \nWater is cold and moist. \nEarth is cold and dry. \n\nIn each element one quality was dominant, and by changing the propor- \ntions of the qualities, one element could be changed into the other. This \n\n\n\n\\/ \n\n\n\n6 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\ndoctrine was afterwards extended to metallic bodies, and a race of alchemists \nbegan to investigate it experimentally?) We do not read of attempts to \nchange gold into silver, nor either of these metals into lead, for avarice acted \nas a mighty stimulus in advancing the inquiry, and a false philosophy sus- \ntained it through many hundred years. \n\nJn the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries the belief in the possibility of \nconverting lead into gold and silver was well-nigh universal, and[j;he pursuit \n^\\ of alchemy was followed by persons in every station of life ; physicians vainly \nhoping to discover the Elixir of Life, merchants and tradesmen seeking a \nshort road to riches, peasants and noblemen, beggars and princes with whom \navarice was a common motive, each and all courted the fascinating follyTj \nThe belief was not confined to the ignorant and unlearned, but was held by \nthe men of science, the theologians, the warriors, and the statesmen of that \nperiod. Some who professed to have accomplished the ** great work,\" as \nthe transmutation was called, were undoubtedly self-deceived, owing to the \noccurrence of certain phenomena which modern chemists have no difficulty \nin explaining, but which to the experimenters of the Middle Ages seemed \nconclusive proofs of the wonderful transformation. On the other hand there \nwere many unprincipled impostors who gained a precarious livelihood by \npretending to a knowledge of the hermetic art, and who practiced their \nprofession at the bidding and costs of wealthy and credulous devotees of \nMammon. These hired laborers in alchemy, anxious to maintain their \nreputation and to please their patrons, fostered this belief by many tricks \nand clever impostures. The learned and crafty Dr. John Dee, who enjoyed \nthe patronage of both Rudolph II, the Emperor of Germany, and of Queen \nElizabeth of England, when about to seek favors from the latter, sent her \na small disc of gold which he claimed to have made by hermetic art from \na copper warming-pan ; and shortly afterwards Dee forwarded to the Queen, \nas an unimpeachable witness, the warming-pan itself, having a hole in the \ncopper bottom of the exact size of the piece of gold. \n\nLeonhard Thurneysser, a noted German physician and alchemist, on the \n20th of November, 1586, in Rome, performed a miracle with a common iron \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, 7 \n\nnail ; the nail was dipped into the melted philosopher s stone, and the iron so \nfar as immersed was transmuted into gold. All of which was solemnly testified \nto by a Cardinal of the Church ; besides, was not the nail itself, half iron and \nhalf gold, a tangible witness convincing to the most skeptical ? \n\nBelievers in the transmutation of metals had however far more satisfac- \ntory and authoritative evidences than these questionable specimens, to which \nthey could point with assurance ; these were the medals and coins of silver and \nof gold, duly stamped with the records of the transmutation, commemorating \nthe power of the adept and honoring his noble patron. The number of these \nhermetic rarities in numismatics is surprisingly large ; to catalogue them all \nwould be no easy task ; we herein describe forty-three pieces mentioned in \nliterature or preserved in cabinets abroad. \n\nThe chief source of information concerning hermetic numismatics is a \nscarce little quarto published at Kiel in 1692 by Samuel Reyher, and bearing \nthe title *' De Nummis quibusdam ex chymico metallo factis!' It is a disser- \ntation presented to the Faculty of Jurisprudence of the University. In its \n144 pages it includes thirty-seven chapters ; the titles of the first five are as \nfollows: Cap. I. De Nummis Aureis, II. De Nummis Argenteis. III. De \n^nigmatibus nonnullis Chymicis. IV. De Auro ex Auripigmento, V. De \nA^gypiiorum Chrysopceia et de Aureo Vellere, \n\nAs may be inferred from these allusions to the '* Enigmas of Chemistry,\" \nand to the *' Alchemy of the Egyptians and the Golden Fleece,\" the author \nwas imbued with the credulous spirit that pervaded all branches of philosophy \nand science at that period. He writes as a historian, but is not thorough, \nsince he fails to catalogue many pieces existing prior to his time. \n\nIn the first two chapters, on gold and silver coins respectively, he gives \nrepresentations of five gold and four silver pieces, besides naming some others. \nThese will be described in their chronological place. We may be pardoned \nfor remarking that Reyher lived and wrote about a century too soon, for after \nhis day a much larger number of these evidences of transmutation and credu- \nlity appeared, which would have greatly added to the size and interest of his \nessay. \n\n\n\n8 CO^TRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nAdditional information is found in the works of J. David Kohler {^Histo- \nrischer Miinzbelustigungen. Niirnberg, 1 729-1 750, 24 vols.), David Samuel \nMadai {Vollstaendiges Thaler- Cabinet. Konigsberg, .1765), Schulthess-Rech- \nberg {Thaler- Cabinet. Wien, 1840, 3 vols.), and other numismatic treatises: \nour chief reliance, however, is on works that belong rather to an alchemical \nthan to a numismatic library ; these we shall mention in passing.' \n\nI. (13th Century). \u2014 Among the earliest of the coins, whose undisputed \nexistence was regarded as visible proof of hermetic labors, were the so-called \nRose nobles made from gold artificially prepared by Raymund Lully. This \ncelebrated alchemist (1235-1315) was invited by Edward II, King of England, \nabout the year 13 12, to visit his realm; on his arrival he was furnished with \napartments in the Tower of London, where he transmuted base metals into \ngold ; this was afterwards coined at the mint into six millions of nobles, each \nworth more than three pounds sterling. These Rose, or Raymund nobles as \nthey were also called, were well known to the antiquarians of the sixteenth \ncentury, and were reputed to be of finer gold than any other gold coin of that \nday. On the obverse of these coins is represented in a very rude fashion a \nship floating on the sea decorated with a royal ensign and carrying the king, \nwho bears in his right hand a naked sword and on his left arm a shield. \nAround this design: edward d[e]i gra[tia] rex ANGL[iyE] z franc[iae] \nd[omi]n[u]s iB[ERNiiE]. (Edward by the grace of God King of England \nand France, Lx)rd of Ireland.) \n\nOn the reverse a conventional rose surrounded by four lions and ducal \ncrowns, alternating with four lilies. The inscription on the outer circle reads : \nJHS. aut.[em] transiens. per. medium illor.[um] ibat. (But Jesus passing \nthrough the midst of them went His way.) St. Luke iv : 30. (Wiegleb, Unter- \nsuch. Alchemie. Weimar, 1777, p. 217.) \n\nI Since my first paper on ' Alchemy and Numismatics ' In the preparation of this article, Mr. Lyman H. Low, \n\n{Amer, Journal of Numismatic Sy XXI, p. 73), Mr. David of New York, granted me the use of his library, and \n\nL. Walter, one of the Vice Presidents of the American made several bibliographical suggestions; his courtesy \n\nNumismatic and Archaeological Society, has contrib- and kindness I thankfully acknowledge, \n\nuted some notes on the subject, including a brief list of The valued communication of Dr. Hans Riggauer, \n\nauthorities. To this communication I am indebted for of Munich, I acknowledge elsewhere, \na few points. \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, 9 \n\nRose nobles are figured by Lenglet du Fresnoy in his Histoire de la \nPhilosophie Hermetique (Paris, 1741, Vol. II, p. 8.), who remarks, *'They \nare less rare in the north of England than in the capital ; one of my friends \nhad several, some of which weighed ten ducats.\"^ These coins are said to \nhave been worn as amulets to preserve from danger in battle, and to have \nbeen used as touch pieces in connection with the gift of healing by royal \ntouch. (Pettigrew, Superstition in Medicine and Surgery, London, 1844, \np. 129.) \n\nLully himself, in his '' Last Testament,\" declares that while in London he \nconverted twenty-two tons' weight of quicksilver, lead and tin, into gold. \nThis relation is vouched for by Cremer, Abbot of Westminster (Maier's Tri- \npus Aureus, Francofurti, 1618, p. 183), and the Raymund nobles are described \nby William Camden, the English antiquary (^Britannia sive regnorum AnglicB \ndescriptio, 1586), and by John Selden {^Mare Clausum, 1635). Robert \nConstantine, in his History of Medicine (1545), states that he found public \ndocuments confirming the report that Lully made gold in the Tower by order \nof the King, and Dr. Edmund Dickenson relates that the workmen who \nremoved the cloister which Lully occupied at Westminster found some of the \npowder, by which they enriched themselves. Historians who do not believe \nin transmutation, point out chronological discrepancies which throw doubts \non the pretensions of Raymund Lully. (See Wiegleb, op, cit,) \n\nThe alchemists clothed their writings in a mystical, enigmatical lan- \nguage, and illustrated them with very extraordinary symbols and hieroglyphs, \nonly a part of which are decipherable ; whether the remainder really had any \nrational significance is doubtful. These symbols included those used in \ncommon to designate the seven known planets and the seven known metals, \nan association that dates from the first centuries of the Christian era ; they \nwere in general use in alchemical manuscripts and printed books for several \n\n2 Numismatists classify Rose nobles into the old (Kohler, Vol. VI, 327 ; Kenyon's Gold Coins of Eng- \n\nand new, the former being coined prior to 1500. Some land, p. 17. Also Ruding's Annals of the Coinage of \n\nof them bear the image of arose resembling a star with Great Britain, London, 1840, which reviews the alchem- \n\nlong points and crowned, others the image of a ship (as istical legend of Lully.) \nabove); the latter are also known as ship-nobles. \n\n\n\nlO \n\n\n\nCONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\n\n\ncenturies, and hence are naturally found on coins and medals whose history \nis connected with transmutation.^ \n\n\n\nSymbol. \n\n\nMetal. \n\n\nPlanet. \n\n\nSymbol. \n\n\nMetal. Planet. \n\n\no \n\n\nGold \n\n\nSun \n\n\nU \n\n\nTin Jupiter \n\n\nD \n\n\nSilver \n\n\nMoon \n\n\ns \n\n\nIron Mars \n\n\n? \n\n\nCopper \n\n\nVenus \n\n\n9 \n\n\nMercury Mercury \n\n\nh \n\n\nLead \n\n\nSaturn \n\n\nt \n\n\nAntimony (added later) . \n\n\n\nAlchemists attempted to explain chemical facts known to them, and \nespecially the constitution of bodies by this theory: All bodies, they said, are \nmade up of three elementary principles named and symbolized thus : ^ Sul- \nphur, volatility; Salt, fixedness; 5 Mercury, metallicity. This mercury \nthey distinguished from the metal by calling it the ** Philosophical Mercury.\" \nAll bodies are formed of these imaginary principles combined in various ways, \nand the predominance of any one determined the degree of volatility, of \nfixedness in fire, or of metallicity. Thus gold, they argued, had little sulphur \nand much salt and mercury, while lead had much sulphur, no salt, and a large \nshare of mercury. They further believed that by changing the proportions of \nthese principles one metal might be transmuted into another ; thus to convert \nlead into gold, it was necessary to remove its sulphur, increase its metallicity, \nadd salt, and change its color. Besides these the literature of alchemy \nabounds in curious signs ; every substance, every apparatus, and every \noperation (such as fusion, distillation and filtration,) had its appropriate sign ; \nsome were pictorial and abbreviative, some symbolical, but the majority were \narbitrary. (Bolton, Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sciences, Dec, 1882, and March, \n1883.) A mere catalogue of them fills a book of many pages; the Alche- \nmistisches Oraculum, (Ulm, 1772,) contains over 2,000 such symbols. \n\nIn their writings the alchemists further used metaphors to denote mate- \nrials and operations. Thus nitre (saltpetre) was a ** venomous worm,\" a \n** scorpion \" and a ** dragon ; \" antimony was a ** wolf\" {lupus inetallorunt)\\ sal \n\n3 Modern Numismatists, I am informed, use the fol- Vorsteny 1735, *\u2022'\u25a0 Gravenhage, 3 vols, folio), uses the \n\nlowing abbreviations for the metals indicated : A^ gold, first five symbols in the preceding table for the re- \n\n/R silver, Ld lead, W M or w m white metal, B brass, spective metals in connection with the engravings. \n\nT tin, N nickel. Van Mieris, in his handsome work on Also Schulthess and others, \nthe Coins of the Netherlands {Histori der Nederlandsche \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, ii \n\nammoniac an ** eagle ; \" and pictorial representations of these objects were \nemployed to designate the underlying chemical facts. Hence lead, being \nSaturn, was represented by this god of mythology, usually as the Greek \nChronos, or Father Time, with his wooden leg and a scythe and hour-glass. \n\nThis enigmatical method of expression is quite common in the manu- \nscripts and books of certain authors. The works of Michael Maier,^ physician \nto Rudolph II of Germany, and of Basil Valentine, an obscure (perhaps \nmythical) monk of the 15th century, afford striking examples. \n\nThese symbols, hieroglyphs and pictorial metaphors, enter into the \ndesigns of the gold and silver pieces coined to commemorate '' the great \nwork,\" thus giving them a character at once significant and easily recognizable. \n\nMetallic talismans also frequently contain the symbols of the seven \nmetals, signs of the zodiac and magical characters, but these are devoid of \ntrue alchemical association, and form no part of our study. The curious may \nconsult the plates in the third volume of Appel's Repertorium zur Miinzkunde \ndes Mittelalters (Wien, 1824;) also the essay on Medallic Amulets and \nTalismans by David L. Walter, in Proceedings Am. Numismatic and Archaeo- \nlogical Society of New York, for 1886. (p. 38.) \n\nII. ( 1 604) . \u2014 A good example of the fantastic representations mentioned \nis the piece dated 1604, figured by Reyher in the work named (p. 15). \n\nObverse. Rude figures of the four animals of prophecy, the lion, the \ncalf, the man and the eagle (Rev. iv. 7) supporting in their midst a spotted \nfleece. Above these are three crowns ; on the first rests a young man hold- \ning a sword in one hand and a cross in the other ; on the second rests an old \nbearded man wearing a pointed helmet and holding the Reichsapfel or Imperial \nGlobe ; on the third crown rests a dove. Around these symbolic figures of \nthe three persons of the Trinity are the words : \n\nTria mirabil.[ia.] \nDeus et homo. \nThin, [us] et un.[us.] \nMater et virgo. \n\n4 Atalanta fugiensy Oppenheim, i6i8; Symbola au- darium cAytnicum by Stolcius de Stolcenburg, Franca- \nrea mensis duodecimo Francofurti, 1617. Also: Viri- lurti, 1624. Long i2mo. \n\n\n\n12 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\n(Three marvels : God and man : three and one : mother and virgin.) This \ninscription is found also on other coins of hermetic association. \n\nOn the Reverse, in the centre, a conventional and modified symbol \nof mercury supports a pelican feeding its young ; within the lower circle of \nthe symbol stands an eagle. The lower part of the symbol is made up \nof 9 (copper), the centre of J (antimony), and the top of the caduceus of \nMercury, intertwined. On the right stands a young man holding in one \nhand the symbol ^ (sulphur), and in the other a nondescript object: on the \nleft stands a young woman, holding \u00a7 (mercury) in one hand and a cornu- \ncopia in the other. The inscription reads : above the figures, ess[entia] una \n(One essence); below the same, ritrt. g. i. w. and lower down sic volvere \nFATA (Thus the fates have decided.) Beneath is 1604. Around an outer \ncircle, natur[a] un[ita] usu r[e]nata modo tot[a], T? fueram, nunc \nclar[issimum] exto. (Originally one in my nature, now entirely regenerated, \nI was lead, behold me most brilliant gold.) Silver, oval. \n\nIII. 161 7. \u2014 Samuel Reyher, in the work described, says he possesses \nthrough the liberality of Dr. Johann Ludolph Ringelmann a golden piece \nwhich he shows in a wood-cut without giving its history. Its description is as \nfollows : \u2014 Obverse, Figures of a man and a woman apparently in a savage \nstate on either side of an ornamented shield ; the inscription around the outer \ncircle is: mo.[neta] no.[va] argentea civitatis ereford. (New silver \ncoinage of the city of Erfurt.) \n\nOn the reverse a shield quartered like a coat of arms surmounted by a \ncherub's head in clouds, with the date 161 7 and the signs ^ (sulphur of the \nalchemists), and \u00a7 (mercury). Around the edge the inscription: date caes- \naris caesari et qu^ DEI DEO. (Matthew xxii : 21. Render therefore unto \nCaesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's.) \n(Kohler, [J. D.] op, cit,. Vol. 21, p. 65. Madai, No. 2219.) \n\nTwo specimens of this Erfurt thaler of 161 7 are preserved in the Royal \nBavarian Cabinet of Coins, Munich, as I learn from Dr. Hans Riggauer. \n\nIV. Another coin of the same date is briefly mentioned by Tenzel. It \nwas stamped with a phoenix, and beneath this fabulous bird the words in \n\n\n\nTO XUMJSMATICS. \n\n\n\n'3 \n\n\n\nI \n\n\n\nTERRis RARlssiMA SED TAMEN. (Most rare in the earth, yet nevertheless I do \nexist.) The origin of this coin was unknown to him. (For Tenzel, see coin \nof 1687 below.) \n\nV. { 1622.) \u2014 Dr. George Wolfgang VVedel, Professor of Medicine in the \nUniversity of Jena in 1673. member of learned societies, and court physician, \nwas a frequent contributor to alchemical literature. Of unimpeachable \ncharacter, his assertions were of great weight among his compeers. Wedel \n(also called Wedelius) describes a silver piece struck by the city of Erfurt, of \nthe date 1622, and distinguished by the characters 4 (sulphur) and 5 (mer- \ncurj). The full description is as follows: \n\nObverse. mo[neta] no[va] arc[entea] civit[atis] erfford. 1622. \n(New silver coinage of the city of Erfurt. 1622) surrounding a wheel with \nscrolls, and the signs ^ and 5 (sulphur and mercury.) \n\nReverse. The arms of the city of Erfurt and the inscription : nach dem \nALTEN scuROT UND KORN. (Of Standard weight and fineness.) \n\nWedel. however, points out that in [622 there were two masters of the \nmint in Erfurt named Ziegler and Weismantel. and the latter to distinguish \nhis coinage from that of the former, employed the well-known signs given, \nwithout any intention of attaching to them a hermetic meaning (Reyher, p. 6 ; \nBuddeus, \u00a721). To this category obviously belong the German coins of the \nfourth century- mentioned by Reyher. Dr. Hans Riggauer informs me that \nthree specimens of the Weismantel coins are preserved in the Royal Bavarian \nCabinet. Munich. \n\nVI. (IV Century.) Quoting Tilemann's Mum-Spiegel, (1. 3. c. 4 \n/. 91,) Reyher says : At that time it came to pass that the people had coins, \nbut the most of them were thin and hollow {hole) for the convenience of the \ncommon people. Afterwards the Kings and Princes | in Germany] coined \nsilver and gold pieces, but of small value, from 20 to 25 Eschen. like the \nRoman Semis and Tremis. The gold, however, was of unequal fineness, \nsome, perhaps the most ancient, being of 22 carats, some of 18 and others, \nperhaps the most recent, of 12 carats. These had busts of various monarchs \non one side and on the other a figure of Mercury, the messenger of the gods, \n\n\n\n\n14 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nholding the symbol $ in his hands ; that is to say the upper part of the sign \nreversed r in his right hand, and the cross + in his left : from this it appears \nthat the coins were struck by the Suabian rulers, for as Tacitus remarked, \nMercurius was specially honored by the Suabians. So far, Tilemann. \n\nA poorly executed and diminutive woodcut in Reyher s work shows the \ncoin as above described, and an almost undecipherable inscription. \n\nThe alchemists sought the philosopher s stone in the three kingdoms of \nnature, animal, vegetable and mineral ; but the chief object of their efforts \nwas the liquid metal, quicksilver; this had great weight, and the paradoxical \nproperty of fluidity ; they argued that if it could be changed to a yellow color \nand ** fixed,\" that is, deprived of its fluidity, it would become gold. Mercury, \ntherefore, is constantly symbolized on the hermetic coins, but to claim every \ncoin as proof of transmutation that has the impress $ is obviously absurd. \n\nJosef Neumann {^Beschreibung der bekanntesten Kupfermunzen, Prag, \n1858) names several coins bearing the symbol for copper ? to indicate the \nmetal of which struck. Nos. 2649 ^.nd 2650 are of the date 1767, and were \ncoined by Stanislaus, King of Poland. A third copper coin named by Neu- \nmann (1203 a) bears the symbols e.] (Prince of Finland, Duke of Esthonia and Carelia, \nLord of Ingria.) The reference to Ezekiel, chapter 37, relates to the vision \nof the dry bones, to which the alchemists gave a mysterious hermetic interpre- \ntation. (Joh. Heinr. Scheler, Beschreibung derer zu Ehren des Koenigs in \nSckwedetty Gustavi Adolphij mit dem Signo Sulphur is et Mercurii 1632 zu \nErfurt gepraegten zweierlei ThalerUy etc. In Hirschius [J. C], Bibliotheca \nnumismatica, Norimb. 1760. Reyher, op. cit. p. 9. Madai, No. 218.) \n\nX. (163 1.) \u2014 A third coin of silver by Gustavus Adolphus has on the \nobverse the Tetragrammaton mn-\" or sacred name of Jehovah in Hebrew \ncharacters within rays of glory, and beneath this are the words : a domino \nFACTUM EST ISTUD. (By the Lord has this been done.) \n\nReverse. The inscription in eleven lines : deo ter optimo | maximo \n\ngloria et LAUS I QUI GUSTAVO ADOLPHO | SUECORUM GOTHORUM | VANd[aLORUm] \nQUE REGI CONTRA | CAESAREANUM AC | LIGISTICUM EXERCITUM | VICTORIAM TRI- \n\nBUiT, I AD LiPSiAM DIE | VII SEPT. ANNO M. D. c. XXXI. (Glory and praise \nbe to God, thrice best and greatest, who gave the victory to Gustavus Adol- \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, 17 \n\nphus, King of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals, against the imperial army and \nthe Ligistians at Leipzig on the seventh day of Sept. 163 1.) Beneath this \ninscription is the character \u00a7 (mercury), but Reyher, who gives a represen- \ntation of the coin, remarks that this sign probably denotes the day of the week \n(Wednesday) and not the metal that formed the basis of hermetical operations. \n\nThe Royal Cabinet of Coins of Bavaria, at Munich, possesses several \nexamples of these Gustavus Adolphus pieces, to wit : Of the 1634 ducat, six \npieces ; of the double ducat of 1633 in silver, one piece ; of the thaler of 1631, \none piece ; also two of the same date without the symbol, and one golden \npiece of this coinage. Dr. Hans Riggauer, Director of the Cabinet, to whom \nwe are greatly indebted for a list of the alchemical treasures preserved in \nMunich, also mentions an Erfurt double thaler, of the date 1631. \n\nObverse, The signs ^ and \u00a7 in a decorated coat of arms, and Gustavus \nAdolphus ascending to heaven in a two-horse chariot. \n\nReverse, Gustavus Adolphus on a bed of state. (See Schulthess, 2048.) \n\nXI. (1647). \u2014 The pursuit of alchemy does not appear to have been \nfollowed in Denmark at so early a period as elsewhere. Christian IV, who \nascended the throne in 1588, (died, 1648) had in his employ an alchemist \nnamed Kaspar Harbach, who had the very useful knowledge of transmuting \nthe products of Norwegian mines into gold ; Danish ducats of 1644 and 1646, \nwere shown, which were said to have been made of artificial gold. Some per- \nsons, however, were incredulous, and to vindicate the honor of his private \nalchemist. King Christian caused new ducats to be coined. These bear on the \nobverse a full length figure of the King in armor, surmounted by the words : \nCHRiSTiANus, d.[ei] g. [ratia] DAN. [i^] r.[ex]. (Christian IV, by the grace \nof God King of Denmark). The reverse has a rather large pair of spectacles \nand the legend: vide mira domi[ni]. 1647. (See the wonderful works \nof the Lord ). (Figured in Kohlers Munzbelustigungen, Theil xii : p. 145, \n1 740). \n\nXII. (1647). \u2014 In the same year an adept named J. P. Hofmann per- \nformed a transmutation in the presence of the Emperor Ferdinand III, in \nNuremberg. From this hermetic gold the Emperor caused a medal of rare \n\n\n\ni8 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nbeauty to be struck. It is figured in the work of an anonymous author \nentitled : Nutzliche Versuche und Bermerkungen aus dem Reiche der Natur^' \nand published by Georg Bauer in Nuremberg in 1 760. This exceedingly rare \npiece bears on the obverse two shields in one of which are eight fleurs-de-lis, \nand in the other a crowned lion highly conventionalized. In an outer circle \noccur the words : lilia cum niveo copulantur fulva leone, and in an \ninner circle : sic leo mansuescet, sic lilia fulva virescent. 1647. (The \nyellow lilies lie down with the snow white lion; thus the lion will be tamed, \nthus the yellow lilies will flourish). The two shields are linked above by a \ncrown, over which are the letters i. p. h. v. n. f., denoting: \u2014 Johannes \nPETRus hofmann vasallus norimbergensis fecit ; and on the right the letters \nT. G. v. L., denoting: tinctur/E GUTTi\u00ab v. libram, which refer to the fact (?) \nthat five drops of the ** tincture \" transmuted a whole pound of the base metal. \nThis power of the tincture is also indicated by the letters v. g., {quinque \nguttaCy) that appear between the two shields below. \n\nOn the reverse, in the centre is a circle containing the figure of the war- \nrior Mars holding the symbol 6 in one hand and a sword in the other, and \nsurrounded by the inscription : arma furens capiam rursusque in praelia \nSURGAM. (Enraged I shall take up my arms and again\" rush into the battle.) \nThis refers to the circumstance that the active agent in transmutation was \nmade in this case from iron. Around this central circle are six smaller ones ; \nthe first contains the symbol for lead T?, with the words a marte ligor. (By Mars \nam I bound.) The second, that for tin 1(!, with the words a marte defendor. \n(By Mars I am protected.) The third, the sign for copper ? , and the words \nMARTE CONJUNGOR. (By Mars I am united.) The fourth, the sign for mercury \n5, and the words pedib[us] mars, ars scidit alas. (Mars goes on his feet, art \nhas torn away his wings.) The fifth, the sign for silver ([, and the words mar- \nTis HORRORE DEFicio. (I am slain by the fear of Mars.) The sixth circle con- \ntains the symbol of gold \u00a9 with the words a marte obscuror. (I am hidden \nby Mars. The hermetic meaning of *'Mars\" being iron, as already men- \ntioned.) George Bauer, describing this handsome medal in 1760, says it \nis preserved in His Imperial Majesty s Cabinet of Coins, Vienna. \n\n\n\nTO NbWflSMATJCS. \n\n\n\n\u00bb9 \n\n\n\nXIII. {1648.) \u2014 The Thirty Years' war was brought to a happy conclu- \nsion by the Emperor Ferdinand III at the treaty of WestphaHa, on October \n24. 1648. In January of the same year the Emperor found time in spite of \nhis cares of State to experiment with the fascinating art of Hermes. A certain \nRichthausen, who claimed to have received the power of projection from an \nadept now dead, performed a transmutation in the presence of the Emperor \nand of the Count of Rutz, director of mines. All the precautions suggested \nby experience with iniposters were observed, and with one grain of \nthe powder furnished by Richthausen, two and a half pounds of mercury were \nchanged into gold. To commemorate this event the Emperor had a medal \nstruck of the value of 300 ducats, appropriately inscribed. The obverse con- \ntained a full-length representation of Apollo with rays proceeding from his \nhead ; in one hand he held the lyra and in the other the caduceus ; his feet \nwere covered with winged sandals, thus personifying the transmutation of \nmercury Into gold. Above and below the figure were the words : divina \n\nMETAMORPHOSIS EXHIBITA PRAG/E XV JAN. AO. MDCXLVIII IN PR.ESENTIA SAC. \n\nCAES. MAjEST. FERDiNANDi TERTii. (The Divine Metamorphosls, exhibited at \nPrague, January 15, 1648, in the presence of his Imperial Majesty Ferdinand \nthe Third.) \n\nOn the reverse there was no ornamentation, and the words : raris \\\\,%z \n\nUT nOMINIBUS EST ARS ITA RARO IN I-UCEM PRODIT. LAUDETUR DEUB IN .F.TER- \nNUM QUI PARTEM SU-E INHNIT-T POTENTI.^ NOBIS SUIS ABIECTISSIMIS CREATURIS \ncoMMUNic.\\T. (Like as rare men have this art, so cometh it very rarely to \nlight. Praised be God forever, who doth communicate a part of His infinite \npower to us His most abject creatures,) The size of this medal is given as 2I \nWurtemberg inches in diameter, and \\ in thickness. It was still to be seen at \nthe Treasury in Vienna in i 797 ; it has been figured in .several works, among \nwhich may be named J. J. Becher's Oedipus Chimicus (Amstelodami, 1664). \nZwelffer's Mantissa Spag'irica (1652). and W. Cooper's Philosophical Epitaph \n(London, 1673). \n\nXIV. (1630). \u2014 Two years after this successful experiment the Emperor \nmade another projection at Prague, operating on lead with some of the pow- \n\n\n\n20 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nder received from Richthausen. With the gold thus obtained Ferdinand made \na second medal beaming the inscription : aurea progenies plumbo prognata \nPARENTE. (A golden daughter born of a leaden parent). This medal was seen \nby the traveler Keyssler in the last century, at the Imperial castle of Ambras \nin the Tyrol. Richthausen, who had furnished the Emperor with the means \nfor these transmutations, was ennobled, being made Lord of Chaos. (J. G. \nKeyssler s Neueste Reisen durck Deutschland. 2 Abth. Hannover, 1751.) \n\nXV. (1658). \u2014 The accomplished Richthausen, now Lord of Chaos, gave \nfurther proof of his skill (in legerdemain or in chemistry ?) in the year 1658. \nThe Elector John Philip of Mainz, a warm patron of alchemists, having \nreceived some of the powder of projection from Richthausen, and taking extra- \nordinary precautions to prevent fraud, himself converted four ounces of \nmercury into gold. The metal was superfine and additional silver had to be \nadded to reduce it to the usual quality. Pieces of this gold were in the \npossession of Professor G. W. Wedel of the University of Jena ; and Mainzer \nducats were also coined from a portion of the abundant metal. These bear : \n\nObverse, The arms of the Electorate. of Mainz and the words: georg \n[lus] FRiD. [ericus] d.[ei] g. [ratia] archiep[iscopus] p.[rinceps] e. [lector] \nEp[isc0PUs] worm.[ati/e]. (George Frederick, by the grace of God Arch- \nbishop, Prince, Elector, Bishop of Worms). \n\nReverse, The words : ducatus nov.[us] aur.[eus] elector, [atus] mogunt \n[i^] (New golden ducat, struck for the Electorate of Mainz) and below this \nthe Mainzer wheel. They are also stamped with the sign $ which denotes that \nthe gold was made by hermetic art from mercury. (Moncony's Voyages \n\nH 379.) \n\nXVL (1652.) \u2014 A silver piece of Low Dutch origin is figured by Rey- \n\nher. On the obverse are these curious emblems : a tower with flames issuing \n\nfrom the archway, a snail bearing a ring in his mouth, and a background of \n\nhills above which birds are flying. Around this the words : \n\n1J4 Vant' geen DAT Elck Versmeet ; \nBen ick in t' wesen bracht \nDiek' eer maer Vullis was \nBral nu met a' hoochst pracht. \n\n\n\n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 21 \n\n(No one has found that which each despises. \nI am brought into being : \nThough I was little more than filth \nNow I shine with the greatest brilliancy.) \n\nReverse. Three miners at work with pick and spade in a quarry or mine ; \naround this the words : \u2014 \n\n^ Langst GEWEEST, EERST GEVONDEN ; \n\nDoor Goots gaeft te deser stonden. \nt' koompt van godt \nDiT Edel Lot A. 1652. \n\n(A long time existing, just discovered \n\nThrough God's gift at this time. \n\nThis noble lot comes from God. [Anno : In the year] 1652.) \n\n. Reyher says this is preserved in the treasury of the illustrious Count of \nSchwartzburg, residing at Arnstadt in Thuringia. \n\nXVII. (1675.) \u2014 An Augustinian monk named Wenzel Seyler, a native \nof Bohemia, visited Vienna in 1675, and securing an interview with the reign- \ning Emperor, Leopold I, son of Ferdinand III, accomplished in his presence \na successful projection. He converted a copper vessel which had been \nbrought to him into gold. He also changed tin into gold, and from the \nprecious metal the Emperor caused ducats to be struck, stamped only on one \nside ; these bore on the obverse a portrait bust of the Emperor with the \nwords: leopoldus d.[ei] g.[ratia] r.[omanorum] i.[mperator] s.[emper] a. \n[uGusTus] g.[ermanle] h.[ungarle] e.[t] B.[oHEMiiE] R. [ex] (Leopold, \nby the grace of God, the ever august Emperor of the Roman Empire, King of \nGermany, Hungary and Bohemia.) On the reverse the year 1675, and the \ncouplet : \n\n\" Aus Wenzel Seyler's Pulvers Macht \nBin ich von Zinn zu Gold gemacht.\" \n\n\n\n22 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\n\n\nwhich may be paraphrased thus : \n\n\n\n*'^ By Wenzd Seylet^s aid, Leopold \nTransmuted me from tin to gold\" \n\n\n\n(Gottfr. Heinr. Burghard*s Destillirkunst. Brieg, 1748.) \n\nXVIII. (1677.) \u2014 Wenzel Seyler was rewarded by being ennobled, with \nthe cognomen Von Reinburg, but resorting to deceitful practices he was sent \nback to his cloister without however receiving punishment. Two years later \nthis crafty monk succeeded in again persuading the Emperor of his power, \nand a large and elegantly ornamented medallion, still preserved in the \nImperial Cabinet of coins in Vienna, commemorates the event. This medal- \nlion is of oval form, measures 40 by 37 centimeters, and has a weight of 7200 \ngrammes. On the obverse is engraved a portrait of Leopold I, surrounded \nby no less than forty-one portraits of his predecessors on the German throne. \nOn the reverse is a long inscription in Latin, setting forth the virtues of the \nEmperor and the power of Johann Wenzel von Reinburg, in the year 1677. \nThis medallion is figured in Herrgott*s Monumenta Augustae Domus Austria- \ncae (1760), and in Prof. A. Bauer*s Chemie und Alchymie in Oesterreich. \n(Wien, 1883.) I examined it in person in August, 1888, at the Imperial \nCabinet of Coins, Vienna. It is of elaborate workmanship but decidedly \nbrassy in color, and is said to have a specific gravity of only 12.67, ^^^^ ^f \ngold being 19.3. Two small notches, one in the upper edge and one in the \nlower, show that it has been cut into for examination. \n\nXIX. (1677.) \u2014 Baron Krohneman, one of the boldest impostors of the \nseventeenth century, played the part of an adept at the court of the Margrave \nGeorge William of Baireuth, with varying success from 1677 to 1686. He \npretended to be able to **fix\" quicksilver, that is, to convert it into a solid \nand to change its color to yellow, in short to transmute mercury into gold. \nLiving at the expense of the Margrave and consuming great sums of money \nin fruitless experiments, he sought to retrieve his waning reputation by a bold \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 23 \n\nstroke ; in the presence of the Prince he heated mercury with salt, vinegar \nand verdigris in an iron dish, and at the end of the operation gold remained. \nProbably the trickster mingled gold in the form of powder with the verdigris. \nSilver was made in like manner, and from this a medal was struck, inscribed \nwith symbolical figures and dedicated to the Margrave. \n\n'Wi^ obverse has a figure of the winged god Mercury, standing on a ped- \nestal ; in his right hand he holds the caduceus with the sun at its head, his \nleft hand is placed across his breast. A chain connects his two arms and his \nankles, near which hang a padlock. Above the figure is the inscription : arte \nET INDUSTRIA. (By art and industry.) And below, exhibitum serenissimo \n\nPRi[nCIPI] DNO [domino] CHRISTIa[no] ERNESTO d[ei] g[rATIa] MARCHIONI \nBRANDENB. [URGIiE] DUG. [l] B0RUS[sLE] DIE VI NOv[eMBRIS] ANNO MDCLXXVII. \n\n(Given to his most serene highness Prince Christian Ernest, by the grace of \nGod Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Prussia, the sixth day of November, \nin the year 1677.) \n\nThe reverse contains the words : solius quod multis creditum esse na- \nturae OPUS NON MINOS ARTIS ESSE IGNORET NEMO. PRODIERE OLIM PRODEUNT \nET NUNC IPSIUS TESTIMONIA REI. DEO HONORI, PROXIMO SALUTI, TOTI MUNDO \n\nADMiRATiONi. (Let no one be ignorant of the fact that what many have \nbelieved to be the work of nature alone is not less the work of art. They \nwere formerly produced, they are now produced, as shown by the thing itself. \nTo the glory of God, the salvation of mankind, and the admiration of the \nwhole world.) \n\nKrohneman had rightly reckoned on the effect of his legerdemain, and \nthe Prince gave him the title of Baron, together with many favors. He con- \ntinued to pursue his crafty ways, duping many persons in authority, fleecing \nGeneral Kaspar von Lilien to the extent of 10,000 gulden, and living in \nextravagant style on his ill-gotten gains. At different times during the ten \nyears in which he flourished, seven other coins and medals were struck to \nmemorialize the operations conducted by Krohneman, or to impose upon his \npatrons. Four of these bear the date 1679, one the year 1678, one the year \n1 68 1, and one has no date. \n\n\n\n24 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nThe medal of 1678 is very similar to that struck November 6th, 1677, \nbearing the standing figure of Mercury holding the caduceus upright on the \nobverse, and the same inscription on the reverse. The date on the obverse, \nhowever, is January 8, 1678 ; on the pedestal of Mercury are the initials of \nKrohneman*s name : c. [hristianus] w.[ilhelmus] b.[aro] d.[e] k.[rohne- \nman], together with the single word posteritati. (To posterity.) \n\nOf this medal many impressions were coined, some of them bearing in \nthe place of the words arte et indltstria, the legend pietate et justitia. \n(By piety and justice.) They weighed ** 4 loth 2 quint,\" being smaller than \nthe coin of 1677. \n\nXXL (1679.) \u2014 ^The four coins of the year 1679 have the following \ncharacters : \n\n[i.] Both in silver and in gold, the latter of the value of 8i ducats, and \ndedicated to the Margravine on her birthday, February i8th. \n\nObverse, A Doric column crowned and encircled by a vine bearing \ngrapes ; on one side Cupid shooting an arrow, on the other a sunflower with \nits blossom turned towards the sun, which is above and to the side of the \ncentral column. Beneath the latter a pair of doves, in the background bay- \nreuth. Inscriptions: auf libes gluth. (In the glow of love.) der durchl \n[auchtigsten] und unvergleichlichten prinzessin, zu ehren f.[rauen] \nf.[rauen.] (To the honor of the most noble and incomparable lady Princess.) \n\nReverse, A palm tree in fruit, above, the rays of the sun ; on either side \na heart connected by a chain to the tree and surmounted by a crown. In- \nscription (continued from the obverse) : sophia louysa marg. [raevin] zu \nBR. [andenburg] g.[eboren] h.[erzogin] z[u] w. [urtemberg] u[nd] t[eck] \n\nAUFGERICHTET V.[on] C.[hRISTIAn] W. [iLHELM] B. [aRON] V. [on] K.[rOHNE \n\nman] 1679. (Struck in honor of Sophia Louisa, Margravine of Brandenburg, \nby birth Duchess of Wurtemburg and Teck, by Christian Wilhelm, Baron \nKrohneman.) In a half circle within the outer one: folgt seegens guth ; \nabove one heart, die starckt ; and above the other, der muth. On one \nheart, the letters c.[hristian] e.[rnst] ; on the other, s.[ophia] l.[ouysa]. \n(Heaven's blessing follows strength and courage.) (Kohler, Vol. IX, p. 417.) \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMA TICS, 2 5 \n\nXXII. [2.] Also in silver and in gold, the latter of four ducats' \nweight. This was struck on the baptismal day of the Prince, May 14th, 1679. \n\nObverse. A two-headed bird, part eagle, surmounted by a crown, over \nwhich the words : praesidia principis. (Protection of the Prince.) On the \nouter circle the words : in honorem ser.[enissimi] princ.[ipis] d[omini] d. \n[ucis] CHRIST. [lANi] ERNEST, [i] MARCH. [lONis]. (Continued on the reverse.) \n\nReverse, An oval shield on a bare arm, the hand grasping a laurel- \nbranch, the arm projects from clouds. Above, the words, pro patria (For \nFatherland) on a scroll, and around the edge: brand. [enburgiae] boruss. \n[i^] Duc.[i] ; OFFERT. c. [hristianus] w.[ilhelmus b. [aro] d.[e] k.[rohne- \nman] m.dclxxix. (In honor of his most serene highness. Prince, Lord and \nDuke, Christian Ernest, Margrave of Brandenburg, Duke of Prussia ; pre- \nsented by Christian William, Baron Krohneman, 1679.) \n\nXXIII. [3.] This is of silver and commonly called a gulden. \nObverse, The portrait bust of the Margrave Christian Ernest, and the \n\nwords: christian. [us] ern.[estus] d.[ei] g.[ratia] mar[chio] br.[anden- \n\nBURGI^] E.[t] M. [aGDEBURGi] PR. [uSSIvE] D.[ux] B. [uRGRAVIUS] N. [oRIMBER- \n\nG^] (Christian Ernest, by the grace of God Margrave of Brandenburg and \nMagdeburg, Duke of Prussia, Burgrave of Nuremburg.) \n\nReverse, No ornamentation, and the inscription : in natalem sereni- \n\nTATIS SU^ SEXT.[um] ET TRIGES. [iMUM] DECENTI CULTU MACTANDUM NUMISMA \nHOC FIERI CURAVIT C. [hRISTIANUS] W.[iLHELMUs] B.[aR0]. D. [e] K. [rOHNE- \n\nman] 1679. (Christian William, Baron Krohneman, had this coin struck to \ncelebrate appropriately the 36th birthday of his serene highness.) \n\nXXIV. [4.] A silver thaler struck on the birthday of the Crown \nPrince George William, November i6th, 1679. \n\nObverse, An armed hand resting on part of a globe and holding upright \na sceptre. The arm projects from clouds and supports a branch of laurel. \nAbove the sceptre the sun with long rays, surmounted by the words : a dec \nET parente. (From God and his father.) On the outer edge the inscrip- \ntion: IN honorem ET diem NATAL, [em] i6. NOV. [eMBRIS] 1679. SEr[eNISSI- \n\nMi] PRiNC.[iPis] D.[ucis] d[omini] georg. [ii] w.[ilhelmi]. (In honor of, \n\n\n\n2 6 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nand for the birthday, November i6, 1679, of the most illustrious Prince and \nDuke, Lord George William.) \n\nReverse. A square table on which rests a cushion bearing a sword and a \nsceptre crossed and passing through a crown ; above this an eye in clouds \nfrom which rays project. On a scroll or ribbon the words: optima spes \nPATRIAE. (The best hope of the nation.) Around the edge the inscription: \n\nMARCH [lONIs] BRAND. [eNBURGI^e] BOR. [uSSI^e] DUG. [is] OFFERT C. [hRISTIANUS] \n\nw.[iLHELMUs] b.[aro] d. [e] k[rohneman] mdclxxix. (Margrave of Bran- \ndenburg, Duke of Prussia, presented by Christian William, Baron Krohne- \nman, 1679.) This being a continuation of the legend on the obverse. \n(Kohler, Vol. VII, p. 265. Madai, Nos. 1053, 1054, 1055.) \nXXV. (168 1.) \u2014 Krohneman lived largely by flattering his princely \npatron, and in 1681 caused another silver coin to be struck on the birthday \nof the Margravine (February iSth), which is notable for its rhyming inscrip- \ntions. With the exception of a few stars above and below, on both sides, \nthis coin is wholly without ornamentation and symbols. The obverse bears \nthe verses : \n\nHoch-Grossus Fursten-Bild, \nIhr Jahr-Tag heut auffgeht, \n\nHiER STEHT Er AUF DEM SCHILD, \nWiE Ihr MIT AUGEN SEHT; \n\ngott wolle sie beglucken \nUnd ihr viel Heil zu schicken \nauch aller orth und enden \n\nDEN ReICHEN SeGEN SENDEN. \n\n(O high and mighty Princess-image, thy birthday occurs to-day. \nHere it stands on the shield, as you plainly see ; \nGod will grant you His favor and much happiness \nAnd on every place and region send His rich blessing.) \n\nAround the outer circle the words: der durchl. [auchtigsten] u.[nd] un- \n\nVERGLEICHLICHSTEN PRINCESSIN FRAUEN FRAUEN, SOPHIEN LOUYSEN, MARGRAFFIN \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 27 \n\nzu BRAND, [enburg] . (Most high and incomparable Lady, Princess Sophia \nLouisa, Margravine of Brandenburg.) This is continued on the reverse. \nOn the reverse, these verses : \n\nSIE GRUNE EWIG FORT \nUND LEBE WOHL VERGNUGT, \nDER HOCHSTE SEY IHR HORT \n\nBIS SIE DIE Welt obsiegt. \n\nUnd segne alle Thaten \n\nder himmel woll ihr rathen \n\nDaSS SIE LEB LANG IN FrEUDEN, \nBEFREID VON ALLEN LeYDEN. \n\n(May you always remain youthful and live in great happiness, may the Highest be your pro- \ntector until you rule the world, and bless all your deeds. Let Heaven be your counsellor that \nyou long live in peace, free from all misfortunes.) \n\nAround these verses, a continuation of the sentence on the obverse, to wit : \ngeb.[oren] hertzog.[in] z.[u] w. [urtemberg] u.[nd] t.[eck] zu ehren \n\nAUFGERICHTET AN IHREN HOCHGEBURTHE TAGEV.[on] C. [hRISTIAN] W.[iLHELM] \n\nb.[aro] v.[on] c.[rohneman] den i8ten febr[uar] 1 68 1. (Born Duchess of \nWurtemberg and of Teck, presented in honor of her birthday by Christian \nWilliam, Baron Krohneman, February 18th, 168 1.) \n\nThis is said to be the only instance in which Krohneman's name is \nspelled with a C instead of a K. \n\nXXVI. General Kaspar von Lilien, one of the dupes of Krohneman, \nalready named, obtained a few ounces of gold by an experiment with some \nwhite salt of Krohneman's preparation, the operation being carried out in the \nGeneral's own house. To commemorate this event a medal was struck bear- \ning no date, but having the following features. \n\nObverse, A lily plant in flower, above which the sun's rays issuing from \na semi-orb containing the Hebrew letters mn-\u00ab ; below the lily the letters : \nc.[aspar] v. [on] l.[ilien] ; above it the words: durch dieses liecht. \n(Through these, light. Dieses perhaps alluding to the tetragrammaton, and \n\n\n\n2 8 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nthe legend thus meaning ** Through the aid of these \\i. e. God] the mind has \nbeen illuminated.\") \n\nReverse, Two arms issuing from clouds, on the right and left sides, \napproach each other centrally ; one hand holds a support from which hangs a \nsmall key, bearing the letters : \n\nG E I \n\nH I N \nEMS \n\nGeheimnis (secrecy), the space between the letters being filled with orna- \nments. Above this the words: mit vorbericht. (With preparation.) \n\nThis ends our record of the medals associated with the name of Krohne- \nman ; some of them it is claimed were made out of artificially prepared metal, \nand others were merely commemorative of some hermetic mystery. The end \nof this arch-impostor was as tragic as his life was vicious; he was detected in \nfraud and hung on the gallows by order of the Margrave. Those desiring to \nfollow in detail his extraordinary career, or to examine engravings of the \nmedals named, may consult Fikenscher's Geschichte Baron von Krohneman, \nNurnberg, 1800, 8vo. \n\nXXVII. (1686.) \u2014 Among the many artful, shameless and pretentious \nknaves and charlatans that defrauded their wealthy dupes by appealing to \ntheir avarice and practicing on their credulity, Domenico Manuel, styled \nCount Gaetano (or Cajetano), deservedly occupies a high place. His career \nof .adventure, duplicity and extortion, his high positions and his ignominious \ndownfall, form a fascinating chapter in biography, but limited space prevents \nentering into details. Of Italian origin, he appears now at Madrid, where he \nstole 15,000 piastres; now at Brussels, where he secured by fraud 6,000 \nflorins and two years' imprisonment; now at Vienna, where he gained the \nconfidence of the whole Court by a clever legerdemain ; now at Berlin, where \nhe completely fascinated the King by a projection made in his presence and \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 29 \n\nby promises to make unlimited gold, and now he again appears suspended by \nthe neck on gilded gallows at Ciistrin in 1709.' \n\nUnlettered and blinded promoters of alchemical doctrines have con- \nfounded this precious rogue with the innocent Antonius Cajetanus, Prince of \nthe Holy Roman Empire, and since the family coat of arms of Cajetanus has a \nmysterious three-faced head,' the alchemists seized upon a certain thaler \nbearing this escutcheon, as evidence of the hermetic skill of the charlatan \nDomenico Manuel. The piece hardly deserves a place in this catalogue, but \nmay be included if only to show the depth of the alchemical folly. The \nthaler has the following characters. \n\nObverse, Portrait bust of Antonius Caietanus with a perruke. Under \nthe arm the figure 130: with the words: ant.[onius] caietanus trivol[sius] \ns[acri] r[omani] i[mperii] prin[ceps] etc. (Antonio Cajetano Trivulzio, \nPrince of the Holy Roman Empire, etc.) \n\nReverse, Two escutcheons inclined ; above these a crown and a head \nwith three faces, two of them bearded. Below, a bound sheaf of wheat, with \nthe words : coms. m. xi bar. retennii imper. xv et c. 1686. \n\n(Madai, No. 2069.) \n\nXXVIII. (1687.) \u2014 William Ernest Tenzel, the Thuringian antiquary, \n(1659-1707,) author of Saxonia Numismatica^ mentions a ducat bearing \nalchemical symbols. \n\n1 A medal commemorating this execution was struck Count, which has an elaborate shield bearing the fam- \nat the time. It has been described by Professor Fiewe- ily arms, surrounded by ten differing devices used at \ngcr before the Berlin Numismatic Society, July 3, 1882. various periods by different branches or individuals of \n(David L, Walter, Am. Jour, of Numis.^ XXI V, 5.) the family: one of them is the same three-faced head, \n\n2 This head was one of the crests of the Trivulzios, which was placed in the dexter chief. The inscrip- \nand is an heraldic or armorial pun on their name, tion on the reverse of XXVII may be read in full, \nWith this crest is usually associated the xaoWo '\u2022*' Mens as explained by Litta, com(e)s m(usochi) xi bar(o) \n6^\u00ab/Vfl,\" so that the significance of the device and motto retennii imper(ialis) xv et c(omes) i.e. Eleventh \nis \"Three faces (Tre Vol ti) with a single mind.\" The Count of Musocco, and Fifteenth Imperial Baron and \nfamily color was green, the ecclesiastical symbolic Count of Retegno. The et c which concludes the \ncolor of the Trinity, to which this device also alluded inscription on some of these pieces is in a sort of \nindirectly, as was clearly shown in one of the beautiful monogram, and would very likely be taken for etc. \nvellum Manuscript Breviaries from the famous Trivul- {et cetera) were it not that Litta explains it in full, \nzio Library, sold in New York a few years ago. as given above. He remarks that the device of the \n\nLitta, in his \" Fatniglie Celebri Italianey^ (last vol- sheaf of wheat, [which appears on the piece of Theo- \n\nume) gives considerable space to this family, and dore, as well as on XXVII above], alludes to a tradition \n\nengraves ten different medals or coins relating to them that one of the Trivulzios generously assisted his \n\n(both obverse and reverse). Among them was one father-land with a gjft of gram in time of famine. \u2014 \n\nwhich was struck by Theodore Trivulzio, the tenth {Am. Jour. 0/ Aumis.j XXV, 2^-) \n\n\n\n30 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nObverse, Portrait bust of Frederick I, Duke of Gotha, wearing a laurel \ncrown, with the inscription : frideric.[us] d.[ei] g.[ratia] dux sax. [onl^] \ni.[uLiACi] c[LiviiE] ET MONT. [ium] . (Frederic, by the grace of God, Duke of \nSaxony, Julich, Cleves and Berg.) \n\nReverse, Two crossed triangles from which rays proceed, with conven- \ntional clouds, and symbols of the sun and moon ; below, a circle, within which \nthe three symbols, \u00a9 [salt], ^ [sulphur], and $ [mercury], with the inscrip- \ntion: A. NUMiNE LUMEN susciPio ET REDEO. (From the Deity I receive light \nand reflect it again,) and the date 1687. (Buddeus, Untersuchung von der \nAlchemie?) \n\nA specimen of this thaler is preserved in the Royal Bavarian Cabinet of \nCoins, Munich. (Dr. Riggauer.) \n\nXXIX. (1684.) \u2014 The same author mentions a coin struck in 1685 by \nhis highness Anthon Giinther, Prince of Anhalt, as a souvenir of his success \nin transmutation at Zerbst, where for many years he worked in a laboratory \nwith his own hands. Not having access as yet to TenzeFs work {^Colloqu, \nmenstr,, the first literary review published in Germany), we can give but this \nbrief reference to it, taken from the Edelgeborne Jungfer Alchymia, p. 204. \n\nXXX. (1704). \u2014 The crafty alchemists who operated with the hermetic \npowder, or the so-called philosopher s stone, almost always pretended to have \nreceived the precious material from some stranger, and but few professed to \nbe able to prepare a larger supply of the wonder-working substance. The \nfollowing anecdote is but one of many of similar purport: In October, 1704, \nGeorge Stolle, a goldsmith of Leipzig, was visited by a stranger, who con- \nversed on divers subjects for a short time and then inquired if Stolle knew \nhow to make gold. The goldsmith replied very innocently that he ** knew \nonly how to work with that metal when already made.\" The stranger further \ninquired if he believed in the possibility of transmutation, to which Stolle \nanswered that ** he did believe in the art of Hermes, but had never met any \nperson able to give him ocular proofs.\" Thereupon the visitor exhibited an \ningot of a yellow metal which the goldsmith tested with the touch-stone and \nby the crucible, and ascertained it to be 22 carat gold. The visitor assured \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, 31 \n\nhim it was artificial gold and withdrew. The nekt day he returned and asked \nto have the bar of gold cut into seven round pieces ; this Stolle did, and after \nthe stranger had stamped them he gave him two of the pieces as a souvenir. \nThe pieces were inscribed with the words : o tu alpha et omega vit^ spes \n\nES POST MORTEM T? REVIVICATIO \u00a9 ]). O UNICUS AMOR DEI IN TRINITATE MISE- \nRERE MEI IN ^TERNITATE, PER \u00a9 ^ $ FIT LAPIS PHILOSOPHORUM. (O ThoU who \n\nart Alpha and Omega [the beginning and the end], thou art the hope of \nlife after death. The restoration of life to lead [transforms it to] gold \nand silver. O unequalled love of God in Three Persons, have mercy on me \nthrough eternity. By sulphur, salt and mercury the philosophers stone is \nmade.) \n\nThe news of this singular event made a great stir in Leipzig ; Augustus, \nKing of Poland, received one of the gold pieces and the other was deposited \nin the collection of medals at Leipzig. The unknown adept who was so \ngenerous with the precious metal, was popularly supposed to be a certain \nmysterious personage who called himself Lascaris, and to whom for many \nyears were attributed similar proofs of hermetic power. {Edelgeborne Jungfer \nAlchymia. Tubingen 1730.) Figured on Tab. V, No. 67, of Kundmann's \nNumi Singulares, Breslau, 1734. \n\nXXXL (1706.) \u2014 In 1705 Charles XII of Sweden condemned to death \nGeneral Paykhull, convicted of treason, having been captured while bearing \narms against his own country. The General, as a forlorn hope, offered, if \npermitted to live, to manufacture annually one million crowns of gold without \nany expense to the King or to the Kingdom. He also offered to teach his \nart to any persons whom the King should select, pretending to have learned \nthe secret from a Polish officer named Lubinski, who in turn had received it \nfrom a Corinthian priest. The King accepted PaykhulFs offer and made \narrangements for guarding against fraud, appointing General Hamilton of the \nRoyal Artillery to superintend the work of the alchemist. The materials \nwere prepared with great care ; Paykhull added his ** tincture,'* together with \nsome lead, and the whole was melted together. A mass of gold resulted \nwhich was coined into one hundred and forty-seven ducats. A medal was \n\n\n\n32 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nalso struck on this occasion, having a weight of two ducats and bearing this \ninscription: hoc aurum arte chimica conflavit HOLMiiE 1706 o. a. v. payk- \nHULL. (O. A. Von Paykhull cast this gold by chemical art at Stockholm, \n1706.) This operation, which was in all probability a mere sleight of hand, \nwas witnessed by General Hamilton, Counsellor Fehman, and the chemist \nHiarne ; the latter, however, had some predilections for alchemy, and in his \nreport of the affair did not doubt the verity of the transmutation. Berzelius \nafterwards took the trouble to examine the documents attesting this transmu- \ntation, and came to the conclusion that the process described could not have \naccomplished the conversion of lead into gold. (Petraeus, Vorrede zu seiner \nAusgabe des Basilius Valentinus ; also Henckel's Alchymistische Brief e, Th. \nI ; and Berzelius, Traite de Chimie VIII, 7.) \n\nXXXII. (17 10.) \u2014 Professional alchemists usually operated upon lead, \nbut Delisle, a low rustic of Provence, excited much astonishment by trans- \nforming iron and steel into gold. Although an ignorant, uncultivated man, \nhe succeeded in imposing on persons of learning and influence ; even the \nBishop of Senez, who was at first incredulous, wrote to the Minister of State \nand Comptroller-General of the Treasury at Paris, that he *' could not resist \nthe evidence of his senses.'' In 1710, in the presence of the Master of the \nMint at Lyons, after distilling with much mystery a yellow liquid, he projected \ntwo drops of the liquid upon three ounces of pistol bullets fused with saltpetre \nand alum, and the molten mass was then poured out on a piece of iron armor \nwhere it appeared pure gold, withstanding all tests. The gold thus obtained \nwas coined by the Master of the Mint into medals inscribed aurum arte \nfactum (Gold made by art,) and these were deposited in the Museum \nat Versailles. (Lenglet du Fresnoy, Histoire de la philosophie hermetique, \nParis, 1 741.) \n\nXXXIII. (17 1 7.) \u2014 The Landgrave Ernest Louis of Hesse Darmstadt \nhad long been ambitious of accomplishing a projection, and had made many \nvain experiments, when, in 1716, he received by mail a small package sent by \none who did not disclose his identity. The package was found to contain the \n**red\" and the ** white tincture,\" with instructions how to use them, the first \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, ii \n\nfor transmuting into gold and the second for silver. The prince himself \ntested the effect of these tinctures on lead and had great success. With the \ngold, he had coined, in 1717, several hundred ducats which bore on one side \nhis effigy and the words: ernest.[us] lud.[ovicus] d.[ei] g.[ratia] hass. \n[i>e] landg. [ravius] pr.[inceps] hers, [feldensis] (Ernest Louis, by the \ngrace of God Landgrave of Hesse, Prince of Hersfeld) ; and below : nach \nALT. [en] reichs schrot. u. [nd] korn. (according to the old standard of the \nrealm) ; and on the other the lion of Hesse and the letters E. L. (signifying \nErnest Louis.) With the silver he had coined one hundred thalers similarly \ninscribed, but also bearing in Latin the words : sic deo placuit in tribula- \nTiONiBUS B. I. B. 171 7. (For thus it pleased God in our misfortunes.) (S. H. \nGiildenfalk's Sammlung von mehr als hundert Transtnutationsgeschichten, \nFrankfurt, 1784.) \n\nFor cut see Kohler, Vol. XVI, i, 1744. Madai, No. 1277. \n\nThe anonymous author of the queerly entitled Edelgeborne yungfer \nAlchymia (Tubingen, 1730), declares he has seen several of the gold and \nsilver pieces mentioned in the preceding pages, especially those of Gustavus \nAdolphus, dated 1631, 1633 and 1634. He also mentions a gold piece of \nNurnberg bearing the words : moneta nova argentea and notwithstanding \nthis mal-a-propos inscription for a gold coin, he considers it a piece in \nevidence. \n\nXXXIV. (1732.) \u2014 A silver triple thaler of good workmanship is de- \nscribed by Madai. (No. 4544.) \n\nObverse. A portrait bust of the Emperor Charles VI, crowned with \nlaurel, and wearing a perruke. Around and above are the words : carol, [us] \nIII d.[ei] g.[ratia] sicil.[iarum] et hier[osolym^] rex. (Charles III, by the \ngrace of God. King of the Sicilies and of Jerusalem.) Beneath the portrait \nc. p. (Mint master's initials ?) \n\nReverse. A burning phoenix on which the sun throws its rays. Below, \nthe letters s. m. and the date 1732 ; with the legend: oblita ex auro ar- \ngentea resurgit. (The forgotten silvery [component] rises again [? is re- \ncovered] from the gold.) The motto, together with the phoenix, a favorite \n\n\n\n34 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nemblem of alchemists, led Madai to believe that this handsome coin was \nstruck by one of their fraternity. Mr. Walter {jfournal, July, 1889, p. 5,) \nsuggests, however, with more probability, that the piece was struck from \nsilver left after refining gold. To change gold into silver was not the \nalchemist's dream. \n\nXXXV. An undated thaler, also called a talisman, is imperfectly de- \nscribed by Madai, who, unfortunately for our purpose, omits the alchemical \nsymbols which are its chief features. \n\nObverse, Three flower stalks spring out of the trunk of a tree, each \nstalk being tipped with a chemical symbol. A naked man with the sun for a \nhead, and a woman with a crescent on her forehead, draw a saw through this \ntree, beneath which a serpent winds his way. Legend : *ysis-th *ysei tep- \nIIETAI [Natura per naturam delectatur] (which may be rendered. Nature \ndelights herself in her works.) Owing to imperfect stamping the last word \nmay also be read temnetai [disecatur] (literally, is severed *). \n\nReverse. A crowned man standing on a globe, in his right hand an \nopen book, in his left hand a caduceus held upright. Behind him water and \nrocks. The man has three faces, two bearded and one younger ; on the \nglobe are chemical characters. In old Gothic letters the words: nATURAG \ninTGRPRe^, yic;e POn$, gloria munoi. (The interpreter of nature, the source of \nlife, the glor}^ of the world.) (Madai, No. 2380, quoting Val. Ferd. v. \nGudenus* Beschreibung eines gesammelten vorratks auserlesener cabinets-thaler, \nWetzlar, 1734. 175 pp. sm. folio.) < \n\nIn the foregoing pages I have briefly sketched the history and character- \nistics of all the contributions of Alchemy to the science of Numismatics that \nI have met with in the course of my reading ; the works cited are chiefly in \nmy private library. Completeness either in detailing the individual coins, or \nin enumerating them, is not claimed ; a further search in numismatic litera- \nture would in all probability reveal many more. In fact, after collecting the \n\nI The mystic character of the piece is curiously HEI (Plat. Phaedr. 240, c, etc.) thus confirming the \n\nmanifested in the legends of the obverse, the signifi- reading TEPHETAI. But TEMNETAI, which de- \n\ncance of which is not easily given in English without a notes felling trees, seems to be indicated by the device \n\ntedious paraphrase. The floral device mav have an of the saw : the grammatical construction is unusual. \u2014 \n\nallusion to the Greek proverb HAIg HAIBlA TEP- {Am. Jour, of Ntnnis., XXV, 9.) \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\u2022 \n\n\n\n\u2022_\u2022 \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 35 \n\nforegoing material, I received from a correspondent the rubbing of an alchem- \nical piece, formerly belonging to Mr. Wm. Poillon of New York, and which I \nwill describe presently. This piece is one not known to the writers I have \nquoted, and this circumstance led me to entertain a hope that I might \npossibly find other medals and coins of hermetic origin in the great treasuries \nof Europe. A clue afforded by Bauer, especially directed me to the Imperial \nCabinet of Coins in Vienna. But first, I may note that inquiries made in \nperson at the Coin Department of the British Museum, and that of the \nNational Library in Paris, were entirely fruitless. The gentlemen in charge \nreceived me with great courtesy, but had no knowledge of alchemical coins, \nand much less preserved specimens. Inquiry, also, for Reyher's book, being \nthe authority on the subject up to 1692, developed the fact that it was not to \nbe found in either of the above far-famed institutions. \n\nAt Vienna, however, my request to see the VVenzel Seyler medallion \nwas promptly granted, and further queries led to the exhibition of three \nhandsome specimens of alchemical coins. Through the kindness of the \nDirector of the Cabinet of Coins, I was permitted to have made plaster \nmoulds of the three pieces ; these were prepared by the workman of the \nImperial Cabinet in the highest style of art. Carrying these moulds with me \nto London, the Head Keeper of Coins kindly allowed me to avail myself of \nthe skilled electrotyper of the British Museum for the preparation of fac simi- \nles. These I had made in duplicate, presenting one set to the British \nMuseum, and carrying away the other for my private use. One of these \npieces is of gold, or what purports to be gold, and two are of (pseudo) \nsilver. One of the latter was known to Reyher and is figured in his oft- \nquoted book. \n\nXXXVI. The medal of which I have a rubbing has the following char- \nacters : \n\nObverse, A figure of Saturn as Chronos, having a scythe over his right \nshoulder, and dragging behind him Mercury, whose caduceus has fallen in \nfront. Above Saturn, the sun and rays piercing the clouds. Over Mercury, \nthe words: sine me nihil. (Without me nothing [can be accomplished.]) \n\n\n\n36 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nIn the sun's rays, per me (Through me), and above: tandem (At last). \nIn front of Saturn: si volvero (If I should be changed). The significance \nof these symbols is plain ; remembering that Saturn is lead, Mercury quick- \nsilver, and the sun gold, they have reference to the transmutation of mercury \nto gold by the aid of lead and of heat (per me in the sun*s rays). \n\nThe reverse shows a large triangle surrounded by flames issuing at right \nangles to its three sides ; within the triangle is a figure made by combining \nthe symbols of sulphur ^, salt 0, and mercury $, over which is the symbol of \ngold \u00a9. Above this, and within the triangle, are the words: trinum in uno \n(Three in one). On the edge of the piece (writes my correspondent) is the \nfollowing inscription : A star of seven pellets, with the words : dum $ cornua \n]) ASSUMiT soror FIT MATER FRATRi suo \u00a9 (Whilst I was mercury the \nsilver [moon] takes her horns, and the sister becomes the mother to gold her \nbrother), and following this a little tablet with the letters f. k. The piece \nitself is of tin or pewter and in fine condition; it measures 35 mm, in diame- \nter. It bears no date, but is apparently not very ancient. The theory that \nbodies are compounded o( three principles, to wit; sulphur, salt and mercury, \nprevailed from the middle of the fifth century to the middle of the eighteenth, \nthough it was modified in the latter period by the introduction of Phlogiston. \n\nXXXVII. Taking up the' fac similes in chronological order, the oldest, \nthough bearing no date, can be assigned to the period between 1581 and \n161 9, since it bears the name of Francis II, Duke of Saxony. \n\nThis is of silver, or some white metal resembling it, and measures 68 mm. \nin diameter. The obverse is almost wholly taken up with inscriptions arranged \nwithin and without a central triangle ; several in concentric circles ; in the \ncorners of the triangle are fireballs, a naked man and a salamander, and \ncentrally another small circle. \n\nt FRANCISCVS \u2022 II \u2022 n : G : SAXOM^. ANGARIyE ' VVESTPHALI/t:. ET : HADELERI^ * DVX \nPROPITIO DEO SECVRVS AGO | ShMPLICITAS ET RECTVM TVVM | RVTA VIRESCET \n\nDEO SIBI ET PROXIMO \n\nMIRABILIS DEVS EST IN OPERIBVS SVIS \n\nSAPIENTIyE DIVINE MVNVS | TANDEM | O \n\nPOSVI TIRI PVNCTVM ET REDVCAM TE \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 37 \n\nIt is difficult to translate with certainty the medieval Latin on this piece, \nbut it may perhaps be rendered as follows : \n\n(Francis 11, by the grace of God, Duke of Saxony, Engern, Westphalia, and Hadeln. \nGod being favorable, I act in safety. Simplicity and thy justice [prevailing] the rue [the \nnational emblem] shall flourish. For God, for himself and for his neighbor. God is wonderful \nin His works. Gold is at length the gift of divine wisdom. I have set a mark for thee and \nwill bring thee back.) \n\nThe reverse has the following words, also arranged in similar style, \nbut within the central triangle two arms issue from clouds, their united hands \nclasping an upright sword, which itself is surrounded by flames. \n\n^ GLORIA \u2022 IN \u2022 EXCELSIS * DEO * ET * IN * TERRA ' PAX HOMINIBVS * BONiE ' VOLVNTATIS : \n^ TRIA \u2022 SVNT \u2022 MIRABILIA : DEVS ' ET * HOMO : MATER ' ET ' VIRGO : TRINVS ' ET ' VNVS : \nlEHOVA \u2022 VERBVM * CARO ' FACTVM. ' EST ' ZEPHIRIS * SFIRANTIBVS * MESSIAS ' S * SPIRITVS. \n\nIRA PLACATA. \n\nHOMO. \n\n(^ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, to men of good will. ^ Three things are \nmarvels, God and man. Mother and virgin. Threefold and one. Jehovah. The word has been \nmade flesh. Zephyrs blowing. Messiah. Holy Spirit. Anger appeased. Man.) \n\nThe characters above the word homo are not cut with sufficient \ndistinctness to be indentified, and are given here as closely as possible with \ntype. In His tor isc hen Remarques iiber die neuesten Sac hen in Eur op a, \n(Hamburg, 1702, etc.), this is described at p. 179. The writer says the first \nmay mean the tables of the Law, (the conventional representation of which it \nevidently resembles) the centre character the world, and the last the chalice \nof the New Testament ; and in view of the inscription this seems as satis- \nfactory an explanation as can be offered. The first character is not recog- \nnizable as an alchemical symbol, the second is antimony, and the third calx, \nor lime. This Medal is also described in M. Christian SchlegeFs Biblia in \n\n\n\n38 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nNummis, Jena, 1703, (p. 346) who however doubts its being alchemical. \n(Quoted by David L. Walter, loc. cit^ See plate. \n\nReyher describes a variety of this ** thaler piece,*' so called, (and illus- \ntrates it at page 18,) which has the well-known chemical symbols \u00a9 ^ $ of \nsulphur, salt and mercury, but otherwise seems to conform exactly to our \nplate. Historischen Remarques, p. 129, also has an engraving, and the piece \nis further briefly mentioned by Kohler and Madai (No. 1282). \n\nXXXVIII. (Medal of 1675.) \u2014 This has the appearance of a piece of \nsilver hammered into shape by an unskilled hand ; the marks of the hammer \nare clearly seen on its faces, and the edge is turned over till it projects slightly \non the circumference. It measures 66 mm. in diameter. The obverse has a \nrepresentation of Saturn as Chronos or Time, with a flowing beard and com- \nmon garments; he holds a scythe in his right hand, the blade of which passes \nabove and behind his head. He has, as often portrayed, one wooden leg. \nIn his left arm he supports a naked infant. On his left a house and a lofty \ntree ; on his right rising ground and another tree ; at his feet grass and \nflowers. No inscription. This design is not stamped as by a die, but is \ndrawn on the face by some sharp-pointed instrument. \n\nThe reverse has a few simple scrolls and the words in five lines in script \ncharacters: anno 1675 mense julio | ego j. j. becher doctor | hanc unciam \n\nARGENTI FINISSIMI | EX PLUMBO ARTE ALCHYMICA | TRANSMUTAUI. (In the month \n\nof July, 1675, I, Doctor J. J. Becher, transmuted by hermetic art this ounce \nof purest silver from lead.) See plate. \n\nThis inscription is of the highest interest, as it directly associates this \nmedal with the eminent German chemist Dr. Johann Joachim Becher, Profes- \nsor of Medicine in Mainz, and physician to the Elector. Born in 1635 at \nSpires, he was self educated, but his talents gained for him many positions of \nhonor. At one time he resided in Munich, where he had an excellent labora- \ntory ;' later in Vienna, and still later in Holland. In 1681 he traveled in \nEngland, examining the mines and smelting works of Cornwall. He died in \n1682, according to some authorities, in London. He was the author of thirty- \nseven or more works, the most celebrated being that usually known as \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS. 39 \n\nPhysica Subterranea, (Frankfurt, 1669) ; a later edition of this, published at \nLeipzig in 1703, has a long introduction by George E. Stahl. In this joint \nwork the doctrine of Phlogiston is promulgated, a theory that controlled \nchemical science for more than a century. \n\nAlthough possessed of no mean attainments in science, Becher was a \nfirm believer in alchemy, and labored and wrote much on the transmutation \nof metals. In the same year as that of the medal in question (1675) he \npublished an Essay on the possibility of transmutation, dedicated to Emperor \nLeopold. At this time and for two years previously he was much occupied \nwith alchemy; in 1673 he made a proposition to the States General of Hol- \nland to manufacture for the government one million thalers per annum, above \nall costs, by operations on sea-sand, of which there certainly is no lack on the \ncoast. He maintained that the sand fused with certain ingredients, to which \nwere added one mark of silver, yielded uniformly one as of gold, and stated \nthat by operating on one million marks of silver daily, the above named profit \ncould be secured. This proposition was favorably considered by the govern- \nment, which granted him a premium and a percentage. Ir\\ 1679 an experi- \nment was made, whereby one mark of silver yielded six as of gold. But \nnotwithstanding this fortunate result, the project was never carried out, and \nBecher soon after left the countr}^ In justice to this chemist, it should be \nstated that he himself said he preferred science itself to all gold. To the \ncircumstances connected with the medal in question, I have not as yet found \nany reference in those of his works at my disposition. \n\nXXXIX. ( 1 716.) \u2014 The third of the fac simile pieces is of (suppositious) \ngold, and is a handsome piece of workmanship, the figures and letters being \nin high relief. \n\nObverse, A large figure of Saturn resting on clouds, with the head \nof the radiant Sun, and holding a scythe in his right hand and an hour- \nglass in his left. On the clouds to his left is the symbol of lead T7. The \nlegend, surrounding this device and near the edge, is aurea progenies \nPLUMBO PROGNATA PARENTE. (A goldcn offspring begotten of its parent \nlead.) \n\n\n\n40 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\nReverse, No ornaments whatever, and the following long inscription in \nletters of uniform size : \n\nMETAMORPHOSIS | CHYMICA | SATURNI IN SOLEM | ID EST, | PLUMBI | IN AURUM, | SPECIATA \n(ENIPONTI, I 31 DECEMBRIS MDCCXVI. | PROCURANTE : SERENISSIMO | CAROLO PHILIPPO | COMITE \nPALATINO RHENI | S : [aCRI] R : [OMANi] I : [mPERII] ARCHIDAPIFERO ET ELECTORE | BAVARIiE, \nlULIyE, CLIVIyE | ET MONTIUM DUCE, | TYROLIS GUBERNATORE ETC., ETC., | ATQUE IN HAC MONETA | \nAD PERENNEM REI MEMORIAM | ARCI AMBROS ET | POSTERITATI DONATA. (The chemical mCta- \n\nniorphosis of Saturn into Sol, that is, of lead into gold, seen at Innsbruck, December 31st, \n1 7 16, at the hands of his highness Charles Philip, Count Palatine of the Rhine, of the Holy \nRoman Empire, Chamberlain and Elector of Bavaria, Duke of Julich, Cleves and Berg, Gover- \nnor of the Tyrol, etc. And a coin in this [/. e, struck in metal resulting from this metamor- \nphosis] is given as a perpetual souvenir of the transaction to the Castle of Ambros and to \nposterity.) See plate. \n\nThis inscription gives all that we have of its history ; the Castle of \nAmbros was renowned in the last century for its extensive and valuable \ncollections of curiosities, many of which are still preserved in Vienna. The \nhexameter on the obverse, Aurea progenies, etc., was first used, as we have \nstated, by the Emperor Ferdinand III in 1650. \n\nSince collecting most of the preceding material, I have received a kind \nletter from Dr. Hans Riggauer, Director of the Royal Bavarian Cabinet of \nCoins, Munich, communicating a list of the alchemical medals in possession \nof the Collection ; to this we have already referred, and we here add brief \nnotes of additional medals named in his letters, Nos. XL to XLIII. \n\nXL, A pest-medal. Obverse : St. George and the Dragon. Reverse, A \nmonogram, etc., and an inscription with the symbols 5 and cJ. \n\nXLL A medal of lead, size of a double thaler. Obverse. In an inner \ncircle the sun surrounded by the signs $ ? \u00a9 c? If b C\u00bb and the inscription \n(translated) : this thaler is manufactured of seven metals. Reverse. An \ninscription declaring that ''These metallic and mercurial materials are worn \nby men as protection against rheumatism and erysipelas.\" \n\nXLII. A small, thick medal of lead. Obverse, A hexagram with the \nletters A D O N A I in the corners ; in the central hexagon the characters \n6 O D 'if \u2022 Reverse. A pentagram with alchemical and mystical characters. \n\n\n\n\nALCHEMICAL MEDALS. \n\n\n\nTO NUMISMATICS, 41 \n\nXLIII. A medal of tin. Obverse, A miner at work, surrounded by \nsixteen alchemical characters. Reverse, An inscription of ten lines. (See \nAppel, 4038.) \n\nIt is obvious from even these brief descriptions, that Nos. XL to \nXLII, and possibly XLIII, fall in the class of talismanic medals, and the \nalchemical symbols so-called are of purely astrological significance. \n\nXLIV. The alchemical signs ? ([ b\u00bb copper, silver and lead, on a coin \nof George II of Hanover, struck in 1740, and which bears a view of a mine, \nare probably used to denote the metals found there. \n\nIn speaking of No. X, page 17, it was mentioned that the alchemistic \nsign 5 is sometimes used to denote the day of the week (Wednesday): it is \nalso used to denote the month of September on some of the celebrated \nGlocken-thaler y or Bell thalers, struck at Braunschweig- Liineburg in 1643 \u2022 \nand the symbol 7/ occasionally denotes Thursday. (Madai, 1144 and 1145). \n\nIn Mr. William T. R. Marvin's superb volume The Medals of the \nMasonic Fraternity described and illustrated (Boston, 1880, privately printed) , \nwill be found a medal bearing planetary signs [No. CCCCXLIV, on page \n1 79] , and several with astronomical emblems. \n\nBesides the coins and medals made from hermetic gold and silver, there \nwere many other evidences of alchemical skill not less reliable and pleasing. \nHaving no intention, however, of reviewing the history of transmutations in \ngeneral, we can only allude to a few of these visible and precious proofs of \nthe mystic art. Early in the 17th century, Michael Sendivogius of Poland \nplayed a successful role as alchemist in many parts of Europe, receiving \nspecial favors from crowned heads and wealthy noblemen. In 1604 he went \nto Prague and was cordially received by Emperor Rudolph II, a devotee of \nalchemy ; Sendivogius presented a morsel of the philosopher s stone to the \nEmperor, who made a transmutation with his own hands ; delighted with his \nsuccess, Rudolph caused to be placed on the wall of the room of the castle in \nwhich the event occurred, a marble tablet inscribed as follows : \n\nFACIAT HOC QUISPIAM ALIUS \n\nQUOD FECIT SENDIVOGIUS POLONUS ! \n\n\n\n42 CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALCHEMY \n\n(Let any other do what Sendivogius the Pole has done.) This tablet was still \nto be seen in position as late as 1 740. Sendivogius was given the title of \nCounsellor of State, and honored with a medal of the Emperor. (Lenglet \ndu Fresnoy, Histoire de la philosophie hermetique, Paris, 1 741 , Vol. I, p. 339.) \n\nOn another occasion Sendivogius delighted the King of Poland, Sigis- \nmund II, by transmuting a silver medal into gold without injuring the orna- \nmentation ; this he did by merely heating the medal red hot and dipping it \ninto a solution of the ** powder \" in alcohol. Borel, in his Antiquites Gauloises, \nrelates that he saw this crown piece in Paris, and he describes it as ** partly \ngold, so far only as it was steeped in the elixir, and the gold part was porous, \nbeing specifically more compact than in its former state in silver ; there \nwas, moreover, no appearance of soldering nor any possibility of deception.\" \n(JAorhoiy Bpistola ad yoel Langelottum. Hamburgi, 1673, p. 150.) \n\nA certain Lascaris, whose movements were mysterious in the extreme and \nwho generally remained incognito, is credited with a remarkable feat in \nVienna. On the 20th July, 17 16, before a number of important personages, \nin the palace of the Commander of the Fortress, Lascaris transformed a cop- \nper pfennig into silver by plunging it into a certain liquid. This was testified \nto in legal form by many dignitaries of the Church and of the State. \n\nThe Scotch alchemist, Alexander Sethon, in 1602, made a projection for \nhis host, James Haussen, a poor sailor; some of the gold he gave to Dr. \nVanderlinden, a reputable physician, who engraved on it the date of the \ntransmutation, March 13th, 1602, at four o'clock; this piece was seen in the \nhands of the Doctor's grandson by George Morhof. The same Sethon is \ncredited with another transmutation for a Frankfurt merchant named Coch, \nwith whom he lodged, and from the gold thus obtained shirt buttons were \nmanufactured. (Th. de Hoghelande, Historiae aliquot transmutationis metal- \nlicae, Coloniae, 1604.) \n\nIn many families of Germany, heirlooms, such as the buttons just named, \nwere treasured and handed down to younger generations as mystical emblems \nof a lost art ; such was the buckle, half silver and half gold, received from an \nunknown adept by Baron von Creuz of Homburg in 17 15; such were the \n\n\n\nrO NUMISMATICS, 43 \n\nsilver guldens transmuted to gold by Count Caetano, in the city of Berlin \n(1705) ; such, too, was the drinking-cup belonging to the Countess Sophie \nvon Erbach, which was changed from silver to gold by an unknown visitor in \nher castle ; such also were the rings and buttons preserved by the Giildenfalk \nfamily as a souvenir of the skill of an adept in 1755. \n\nThose who believed and would persuade others to believe in the trans- \nmutations of metals, were further wont to recall the enormous riches of many \nreputed followers of Hermes, discovered usually after their death. Augustus, \nElector of Saxony, who made projections with his own hands, at his death in \n1580, left seventeen millions of rix dollars in the treasury; Rudolph II of \nGermany, already often alluded to, left at his death in 1680, eighty- four \nhundred weight of gold and sixty hundred weight of silver, products of \nhermetic art. At the same time the professed makers of gold invariably \ndemanded from their credulous patrons, or from the public, large sums of \ngold itself, ostensibly for the preparation of the wonder-working \"tincture,\" \nthough actually it was consumed in the maintenance of ostentatious and \nextravagant living. \n\nThe establishment of a truly scientific spirit of inquiry, and the progress \nof a rational chemistry at the close of the last century, exposed the preten- \nsions of alchemy, and deprived the charlatans of their power over the masses. \nThe manufacture of coins and medals to commemorate fraud and legerdemain \nceased, yet this century is not wholly without its harmless claimants of \nalchemical knowledge and power. \n\nIn 1843 a curious work appeared in Paris, by a manufacturer of cloths \nof one of the southern provinces, who undertook to teach in nineteen lessons \nthe secret of transmutation. Fran9ois Cambriel, the author of this '' Cours de \nphilosophie hermetique',' made the following magnificent offer: \n\n**We therefore offer 25,000 francs for each thousand francs loaned, pro- \nvided the person loaning the money will grant us his confidence and will \nfurnish 6,000 francs (a sufficient amount to complete our discovery), to be \npaid in seventeen payments, one every month except the first, which shall be \nof 1,200 francs.\" Then follows his address, and it is rather significant that","title":"Contributions of alchemy to numismatics","tradition":"Alchemy","translated_text":null,"word_count":15405}