Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 14.djvu/808

NTJMISMATICS. 686 NUNEATON. 1029). On the Continent, in the twelfth and thir- teenth centuries, the denarii were struck on a broad iian, so thin that even with low relief it was impossible to stamp them on both sides. Such coins are known an bracteatcs, from Latin hractta, a thin, tUit piece of metal, and were coninionlv struck by the (jerman princes, of whom the first" was Conrad III. (1138-52). Those of Frederick Barbarossa arc very numerous and often beautiful of their kind. Polish coinage be- gins with the introduction of Christianity under Miecislas 1. (c.9()5-n!)2) . The style and fabric is like the German coins of the same epoch, but the inscription is often in Russian letters. Russian coins begin under Vladimir, who died in 1015. Consult: Tolstoy, La iiumismatique russe uvant Pierre le Grand ( Saint Petersburg, 1884 ) . The coinages of the thirteenth century are notalile for the large number of gold pieces. Here begins the splendid series of gold florins of Florence and sequins (or dueats) of Venice, which show an advance in style that rapidly sjiread to other parts of Europe. The doges' coins extend with little change from Giovniuii Dandolo ( 1279-89) to Ludovico JIanin (1797). For Italian coins, consult: Promis, Tavole sinottiche drile tnoiwte hatfute in Italia (Turin. 1869). In the fourteenth century the coinage in gold and silver is vastly improved, the broad, flat pieces being vei-j- rich in ornamentation, especially the French silver tournois and gold motiton, the German silver groscbeii, and the English gold noble, or rose- noble. The fifteenth century continues the (julden, florins, and dueats of the previous epoch. The hrueletites are still found, but small and poor. A new type of money is now introduced at Joa- chimsthal in Bohemia, a broad, flat silver coin, which (|uickly spread over all Germany and re- ceived from its first place of mintage the name Joachimsthaler, .soon abbreviated to thaler (the origin of our American name dollar). The earliest dated tluilir is that of Duke Sigismund of Tyrol. 1484. The broad thalers of the fif- teenth and sixteenth ci'Uturies are real medal- lions of art. and this is true also of many of the contemporary c(uns of Italy, which are the work of artists of the first rank, as Francesco Francia of Bologna and Benvenuto Cellini. With the dating of coins the really modern period now begins; portraits are es|)eeially line, and values are placed on the various pieces. The tyi)es are limited in variety and the historic value of coins is largely transferred to medals. Oriental coins have an origin quite inde|iendent of the European series. In China, some kind of coinage is said to have existed in the third niillennimn B.C. The earliest coins known are of brass, and have the form of 'trousers.' 'razors.' or sqimres. A pecu- liarity of later Chinese brass coins ('cash') is the square hole in the centre, for ease in carrying on strings. Consult : Terrien de Lacouperie and Poole, Calalofinr of Chinese Coins (I'.ritisli Mu- seum) (London, 1892). In Japan, in the seven- teenth centur>-. there were the oval gold kohnnf] with mint-stamps, the oblong gold and silver itzebti, and the oval brass tempo, the latter hav- ing the square hole for stringing, like the Chinese 'cash.' Rini.ior.RArnv. Besides the numismatic works menliiined above, the following may be consulted: For Englanil, Ruding, .innals of the Coinage of Great Britain (London, 1840); Tliorburn, Guide 1o the Coins of Great Britain and Ireland ( ib.. 1884) ; Poole, British Museum, Catalogue of Eng- lish Coins (ib., 1887) ; Hawkins, Sileer Coins of England (ib., 1876) ; Kenyon, Gold Coins of Hug- land (ib., 1884) ; Batty, Deseriptive Catalogue of the Copper Coinage of Great Britai)i and Colonies (Manchester, 1876). For Scotland, Cochran, keeords of the Coinage of Scotland (Edinburgh, 1876) ; Robertson, Handbook of the Coinage of Scotland W.ondon, 1878). For Germany, .Schult- hcss-Rechberg. Thalcr-Kahinett (Vienna, 1840) ; Schwalbach, Die neuesten deutsehen .Uiinzen un- ter 'J'hulcrgrijsse vor Einfiihrung des lieichsgeldes (Leipzig, 1879). For France, Berry, Eludes et reeherches historiqiws snr h'S nionnaies d-e France- (Paris, 1852.53) ; Hoffmann, Les nionnaies roy- ules de France' (ib., 1878). For Italy. Bazzi e Santoni. udemecuni del raeeoglitore di nxonete i7a/iu«<'(Camerino, 1886). For Portugal, Teixeira de Arag&o, Description des nionnaies et medailles de I'histoire portugaise (Paris, 1867) . For Switz- erland, ('oraggioni, Miinzgeschichte der Schicei^ (Geneva, 1896). Among the excellent manuals are Lenormant, ilonnaics et medailles (Paris, 1883) ; Von Sallet, .l/iincen und Medailkn (Ber- lin, 1898) : Ambrosoli, Manuale di numismatica (Milan, 1895) ; Stiickelberg, Der Mtinzsammler (Zurich, 1899). Collectors may find interest in Humphrey, Coin. Collector's Manual (London, 1853) ; Prime, Coins, Mediils, and Seals (New York, 1861); Mathews. Coinages of the World (ib., 1876); Hazlitt, Coinages of the European Continent (London. 1S93) : Dye, Coin EncyelopcB- dia (Philadelphia, 1883). NTJ'MITOR. See Romulus. NUMMULITES, num'mu-ll'tez (Xeo-Lat. nuinnuiliis, diminutive of nuniinus, coin). A genus of vitrco-calcareous foraniinifera that se- crete a lenticular shell composed of m;iny whorU coiled in a flat spiral. At the present tinu' Xuni- nndites is represented by only a few species that live in the shallow water of warm seas, but dur- ing ancient geological times, especially during the Tertiary, it was of great importance, for its shells formed limestone formations often hun- dreds of feet in thickness. These massive num- mulite limestones are prominent features in some parts of the Alps, and they occur also in the north of Afrit-a. in .Asia >Iinor, Persia, Imiia, China, and Central .meriea. .An allied genus, Orbitoides, is common in the Eocene beds of the Southern United States. See article Foramini- I'KHA. NUN. See .MoXASTICISM ; SlSTKRllOons. NUN-BIRD. (1) A putl-bird. (2) Any of several species of titmouse. (3) A variety of domestic pigeon. In each case the colors of the l)lumage suggest the n;imi'. NUNC DIMIT'TIS (Lat.. now lettest thou depart ) . The name given, from its opening words in the Latin version, to the canticle of Simeon (Luke ii., 29-32). which forms part of the compline ofliee of the Roman breviary, and in the evening service of the Anglican (Church follows the second lesson. NUNCIO, nfMi'shI-r>. See Lecatf. NUNEATON (nun'.'-tr,n) AND CHILVERS COTON. . manufacturing and market town in Warwickshire. Enghmd. on a tributary' of the Anker. SV', miles northeast of Coventry (Map: England. E 4). The town has the interesting Gothic Church of ."saint Xieholas.the new Church I