Historical-Political Dissertation on Coins, Both Functional and Commemorative

hundred years before the city of Rome was founded, it is clear from what has been said that true purchases were in use through money, whether weighed or counted. Compare Acts 7:16, a indeed most vexed passage, but whether it is understood that the monument was bought by Abraham, or by Jacob, or by both at distinct times (see Mr. Mirus, p. 17), which we leave to the interpreters to shake out, there is still an open mention of times argyriou price of silver, Luth. umb Geld for money / or, umb einen Preiß Silbers for a price of silver. It is therefore sufficient for us that in the age of the Patriarchs (see Heidegg, Historia Patriarchalis, Part 1, Exerc. 1, th. 34), money was already used as an eminent price in the contract of buying and selling, whether it was only weighed or also stamped, which latter we leave to its own place (see again Mr. Mirus, p. 10 & 59), yet judging with Dr. Osiander, Observ. in Grot. 2, 12, 3, p. 920, that weighing does not oppose stamping, but rather confirms the value of the coin. For although it may be granted that money was at first formless, and weighing to a just balance prevented fraud, a stamped type of coin could nevertheless exist simultaneously. Add Conring, l.c. Likewise, let exegetes examine whether the Hebrew word qesitah (which blessed Luther translates as Groschen / with a gloss in the margin: or sheep) is properly a lamb or a ewe, or a species of coin, and one marked with the image of a lamb; or whether a common name for coins is indicated. See Gerhard, Comment.; also Hotting, de nummis Orientalibus, diss. 3, p. 111; Osiandr, l.c. p. 917 seq.; Sam. Bochart, Hierozoicon, Part 1, ch. 43; Pfeiff, dub. vex., cent. 1, loc. 50-60, 63; Lankisch, Mahlschatz, ch. 15, p. 475; Misandr, Delic. Bibl. ad h.l.; Mirus, Stathm. S. p. 18 & 44. That Terah, the father of Abraham, first minted money, smacks more of a fable than resting on any suitable argument; see D. Ziegl, Tract. de Jur. Majest. 1, 49, 4; Wagenf. l.c. For the rest, that the Jews did not shy away from a stamped type of coin can be seen from their shekels, struck in subsequent time; for these and their stamping, the authors who have written on Hebrew coins are to be consulted, specifically Matthes, l.c.; Hottinger, already alleged; Schickard, Waser, Selden, Goodwin (in Moses & Aaron, book 6, ch. 10), and many others, alleged by Lund in Levitischen Priesterthum Levitical Priesthood, book 1, ch. 36, p. 206. To whom should rightly be added Mr. Mirus, l.c., ch. 3 & 5.