Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/147

ANCIENT PORTRAITURES OF OUR LORD. 117 known, there exists another of smaller module, and of rare occurrence. Both have been figured in the notes on the Misclma, in the edition by Surenhusius,^ The former is described as frequently to be met with — " in multorum manibus" — and commonly (passim") to be seen suspended to the necks of children. A somewhat varied reading of the Hebrew legend is given, with the interpretation — " Messias rex venit in pace et homo ex homine factus est vivus (sen verus)." It is observed, however, that the in- scribed obverses of these medals, tooled up by some artificer ignorant of the Hebrew tongue, present many slight discre- pancies that render the interpretation very difficult. Of the smaller medal, apparently a repetition of the emerald type, but measuring, as shown by the engraver, one inch only in diametei-, the learned editor had seen a single example, that had been shown to him at Vienna.^ On the obverse is the head of our Lord, in profile to the right ; there are no Hebrew letters in the field, as on the larger medal. On the reverse is the following legend, in four lines : — in"' CIS") mn'^ n^tt?a ^np ria;"' thus interpreted : — " Jesus Nazarenus Messias Deus et homo simul.'^ These medals, as he observes, may be ascribed to some Christian artist acquainted with Hebrew, or to some Jewish convert, who thought that it would be pleasing to pilgrims to the Holy Places to bring home from the land that our Lord inhabited a coin {moneta) exhibiting his face. Hence such pieces were executed, and inscribed in Hebrew, so that they might excite greater veneration in the eyes of the un- learned, and, presenting the appearance of antiquity, might realise a better price. Another remarkable medal is to be found in the King's Cabinet in the British ]Iuseum, for a notice of which I am indebted to Mr. Franks. By ^Ir. Kcady's obliging assist- ance I have obtained a facsimile. This medal had not been mentioned by Mr. King. It bears the head of the Saviour, to the left, with the inscription — Yiis. xrc. salvator " Legiim Mischnicarurn Liber, pars iii. apud amplissimum, etc., nobis dilectum •' De re Uxoria," edit. Gul. SurcDliueiiud, virum Ferdinaudum Perbium a Luhna- Aiustd. 1693, p. 231). dorf, ser. Elect. Palat. iu aula Cxsarca ■* '• Non alibi vidimus (juam Vicnnx Lcgatum Residentcm."