World Coins Dictionary of Numismatic Names S.

Sabi. Tlic pntiiiation or rust on a Japanese
coin. For a detailed aecount see
Miiiiro, Introduction (\^. x.)-
Sacramental Tokens. i<rr rommunion
Tokens.
Sad-Dinar. Sec Jlalimruli, and Sanai'.
Saddle Money. Sec Kiu Ma.
Sadiki. Srr Siddiki.
Sagittarii. A name jriven, on account of
their ty|)e, to Persian Darics and Sigloi.
See Archers.
Sahebqiran. A Persian silver coin, corres|)
ondinjr in size to the Real. It was
struck for Tabriz, Ardcbil, Kermanschahan,
etc. Sre Fonrobert (No. 4670-4714).
Saiga. A snudl thick silver coin of the
Merovin<xians. Charles Martel struck them
at Aries, Marseilles, etc. Their value
varied ; some authorities claim that they
rcpi'esent the fourth part of the Tremissis,
while oth(>rs think that they were equal to
tiie Denarius of that period. See Blanchet
(i. 24, 27, 102).
Saime. According to' Kelly (p. 5) this
was a former money of account in Algiers
and computed at fifty to the Aspre.
St. Afra Dukaten. The general desigluition
for a series of gold coins issued by
the city of Augsburg in 1635, 1636, etc.,
which have on the obverse a figure of St.
Afra, the patron saint of the cit.y.
Saint Andrew. A gold coin of Scotland,
first struck in the reign of Robert II (1371-
1390), and continued almost uninterruptedly
to the -second coinage of James V in
1;'52.5. It derives its name from the figure
of St. Andrew with extended arms which
occurs on one side. Its weight varied from
thirty-eight to eighty-one grains, and the
half in proportion. See Lion.
St. Andries Gulden. A gold coin of the
Counts of Holland and the Dukes of Burgundy,
struck during the fourteenth cent\
iry and later. It receives its name from
the standing figure of St. Andrew on the
reverse. See under Andreas, supra.
[20'
St. Blasius Thaler. Srr \'islino.
St. Jans Rijksdaalder. The name given
to a silver coin issued by the Emperor
Rudolf II for Gi'oningcji in 1598 and conlinued
until about 1602. It has on the
obverse a full length figure of St. -lohn the
Baptist lioldiiig a lamb.
An essay of this piece, called the St.
•Tans Daalder, appeared as early as 1561.
and was struck on both round and scjuare
planchets. On it the Emperor's name is
of cour.se omitted.
St. Matthew'sgroschen. See Matthiasgroschen.
Saint Patrick's Money. Half Pence and
Farthings bearing upon the obverse a
figure of King David kneeling and playing
on the harp. On the reverse is the standing
figure of St. Patrick with a cross or
crozier in his hand.
Simon classed these coppers as Irish
siege-money, and states that they were
struck in Dublin in 1643. Philip Nelson,
however, in a paper contributed to the
Brifixh Niiiiiisiiiafic Journal (i. 184),
pi-oves witiiout a doubt that they were not
issued prior to 1678. They are sometimes
called "Newby Coppers," because Mark
Newby brought a rpuintit.v of them from
Ireland to New .lersey in 1681, and they
were used for a time as currency in that
State. See also British Nuiiiisinatic Journiil.
(iii. 219-222).
St. Victor Daalder, or Ecu au St. Victor.
The name gives to a silver coin of William
de Bronckhorst, Seigneur de Batenbonrg
(1556-1575), which has on one side the
figure of St. A'ictor armed with a sword.
The inscriiition reads SANCtus victor mar-
TIR.
Salding, or Scalding. A base English
silver coin of the period of Edward I. In
the (Uilrndar (if Documents relating to Ireland,
circa 1285 (iii. 8), there is a reference
stating that the Bishop of Watcrford,
Stephen de Fulborn, caused new money to
be made. It was called Scalding, Bishop's money, or Stepheniug, from tlie name of
the Bishop. See Brabant.
Salt was used by the Venetians during
the thirteenth century as an equivalent for
money, and the Abyssinians have employed
bars of rock-salt. See Amoles. Marco Polo
in his Travels (Bk. ii. 38), in describing
the Chinese province of Kain-du, remarks
as follows
:
"In this country there are salt-springs,
from which they manufacture salt by boiling
it in small pans. When the water has
boiled for an hour, it becomes a kind of
paste, which is formed into cakes of the
value of twopence each. These, which are
flat on the lower, and convex on the upper
side, are placed upon hot tiles, near a fire,
in order to dry and harden. On this latter
species of money the stamp of the grand
Khan is impressed, and it cannot be prepared
by any other than his own officers.
Eighty of the cakes are made to pass for
a saggio of gold. But when these are carried
by the traders amongst the inhabitants
of the mountains and other parts little fre-
(luented, they obtain a saggio of gold for
sixty, fifty, or even forty of the salt cakes,
in proportion as tliey find the natives less
civilized, further removed from the towns,
and more accustomed to remain on the same
spot ; inasmuch as people so circumstanced
cannot always have a market for their gold,
musk, and other commodities. And yet
even at tliis rate it answers well to them
who collect the gold-dust from the beds of
the rivers. The same merchants travel in
like manner through the mountainous and
other parts of Thebeth (Tibet), where the
money of salt has equal currency. Their
profiles are considerable, because these
country people consume the salt with their
food, and regard it as an indispensable
necessary ; whereas the inhabitants of the
cities use for the same purpose only the
broken fragments of the cakes, putting tlie
whole cakes into circulation as money."
In a note to the foregoing passage the
translator adds: "The saggio of Venice
was the sixth part of an ounce, and conse-
(piently the cake of salt was in value the
four hundred and eightieth part of an
ounce of gold, which, at the price of four
pounds sterling, is exactly two pence for
the value of each cake; a coincidence that
eision, however, must depend on a comparison
between the English pence and
Venetian denari of that day,"
Up to modern times salt cakes have been
used as money on the borders of Yunnan.
Saltire Plack. See Plack.
Salt Silver. Kennett, in Parochial A^itiquities
of the j-ear 1363, has the following
:
"Salt-Sylver is One penny paid at the
Feast of St. Martin, by the servile Tenants
to their Lord, as a commutation for the service
of carrying their Lord's Salt from the
ilarket to his Lardar.
"
Salung, or Mayon. A Siamese silver
coin, the one fourth part of the Tical
(q.v.).
Salute, called by the French Salut d'Or.
A gold coin issued by Henry V of England
in 1422, bj- virtue of his power as Regent
of France bj' the treaty of Troyes. The
obverse shows the Annunciation, or the
angel's Salutation of the Virgin Mary, and
the two shields of England and France.
Between the figures is the word ave on a
scroll, above which are celestial rays. The
surrounding inscription reads : henricvs :
DEI : GRA : PRACORV ' : Z : ANGLIE : REX.
The Salutes of Henry V are very rare,
but those of Henry VI are quite common.
The mint marks indicate that they were
struck for Calais, Paris, Amiens, Dijon, etc.
The above coins were copied from the
Salut d'or, originally issued bv Charles VI
of France (1380-1422). See Hoffmann (7,
8).
Saluto d'Oro and Saluto d'Argento.
Names given to gold and silver coins issued
in Naples and Sicily by Charles I of Anjou
(1266-1285), and bv his successor, Charles
II (1285-1309).
They bear on the obverse a representation
of the Salutation of tlie Virgin and are
the prototypes of the Anglo-Gallic Salute
(q.v.).
Salvator Thaler. Tlie name given to a
Swedish Tlialcr with the effigy of the Savior
on one side, and the inscription .salvator
MVNDi. It was introduced by Gustavus
I Wasa in 1542, and continued until
the reign of Christina.
Sampietrino. A Papal copper coin of
the value of two and a half Baiocci, issued
could hardly have been expected. Its pre- by Pius VI (1775-1798). See Madonnina.
[208]
Samson d'Or Santo Thome
Samson d'Or. See Fort.
Sanar. The unit of the coinage of
Afgliiinistan, which is computed as follows
:
10 Dinar = i i-aisa m- Takii.
5 I'aisa = 1 Shflhi.
2 ShShi = 1 Sanar. SaiMinnr. iir Misqiinli.
2 Sanar = 1 Abliasi.
1% Abbasl = 1 Quran.
2 Quran = 1 Rupee.
20 Rupees = 1 Tunian.
Conf. for the analogy to the modern Persian
coinage, Senar, Abbasi, etc.
Sanar-Kasu. The name given by the
former natives of Portuguese India to the
Venetian Zecchino, M'hieh was at one time
current in Goa and vicinity.
San Carlo. A silver coin of Charles
Emanuel I, Duke of Savoy, struck in 1614,
and equal to nine Fiorini.
Saincheti. A general name for coins issued
by such rulers of Navarre as bore the
name of Sancho, of which there were several.
Szuicto Zoanne. A coin of Florence, alluded
to in an ordinance of 1494 as being
equal to twenty Quattrini.
Sand Dollar or Sand Cast Dollar. The
name given to a Mexican Peso cast in Chihuahua
by Ferdinand VII during the Revolutionary
period (1812-1821). These
pieces are generally connterstamped.
Sanese d'Oro. A gold coin of Siena,
struck bv Giovanni Galeazzo Visconti
(1390-1404). It has a large S on one side
and a cross on the reverse.
San Felipe. A silver coin issued by
Philip III of Portugal (1621-1640) for
Goa. It receives its name from the letters
s. F., i.e., Sao Felipe, which are found on
the obverse, one on each side of the figure
of a saint. See Fonrobert (3878).
San Giovannino. A silver coin of Genoa
issued in 1671, and of the value of one
sixteenth of the Scudo. It obtains its name
from the standing figure of St. John the
Baptist, represented on one side of the coin.
The same name is given to a billon coin
of the value of three Soldi struck at Correggio
circa 1615 to 1630, on which was a
seated figure of St. John the Abbot,
San Joao. A silver coin issued by John
IV of Portugal (1640-1656) for Damao and
Goa. It receives its name from the letters
S. I., i.e., Sao Joao, which occur on the
obverse, one on each side of the figure of
[209
a saint holding a banner. See Fonrobert
(3SS1-:1SS7, 39(i5).
San Martino. A silver coin of Lucca
issued under Republican rule from about
1660 to 1750, and of a value of fifteen
Soldi. The reverse has a figure of St. Martin
and the beggar. See Pettier Thaler.
San Mauricio. A silver coin struck by
Charles II, Duke of Savoy (1504-1553),
which received this name from the figure
of St. Maurice on horseback. It was issued
in two values, i.e., sixteen Grossi and nine
Grossi, and there are corresponding halves
and quarters. See Promis (41).
Sannar. The name given to a billon
Soldo of Perpignan struck in 1528 by order
of Charles V.
San Paolo. A silver coin of Guastalla
issued in the reign of Ferdinand Gonzaga
(1595-1630). Its value was twenty-one
Soldi. Conf. also Paolo.
Sanpetronio. A Papal coin of Bologna
referred to in an ordinance of Francesco
Maria, Governor of Siena, in 1686.
Ssoipierino. Another name for the
Grosso d'Argento struck in Rome by the
Senate, circa 1297, to commemorate the approaching
jubilee year 1300. It bears a
figure of St. Peter. See also Sampietrino.
San Pietro. See Albulo del San Pietro.
San Rupee. A tj-pe of the Rupee struck
by the East India Company at Farukhabad
A. II. 1203. It has the inscription yr 45,
and is consequently usually referred to as
the fortj'-five San Lueknow Rupee.
Santa Croce. A silver coin of Lucca, issued
in 1564 and later, and of the value
of twenty-five Soldi. The usual revei-se has
a cross and the inscription salvator mvndi.
Sant' Anselmo. Another name for the
Anselmino (q.v.).
Santo Thome. A gold coin of the Portuguese
Indies, struck as early as the middle
of the sixteenth century, principally at
Goa. Its value originally was fifteen hundred
Reis, and there was a corresponding
half. The earlier types represent on one
side a figure of Saint Thomas standing
dividing the date, and on the reverse the
armorial shield of Portugal with an inscription.
At the beginning of the i-eign of John V
(1706-1750) there was a read.iustment of the monetary system and the Santo Thome
was struck in various sizes, based on the
Xcraphin. We find in consequence a San
Thome of two, four, eight, ten, twelve, and
fifteen Xerapliins. Tlie design on these
coins is usually a cross, the lower bar of
which divides the date, and the upper one
the figiires 12 X, 10 X, etc.
The San Thome was issued at Goa until
the year 1841.
San Vicente, or Santo Vicente. A gold
coin of Portugal, first issued by John III
(1521-1557). It had a value of one thousand
Eeis, and bears the full length figure
of St. Vincent and the inscription zelator
FiDEi, a title conferred on John by Pope
Paul III for his efforts to establish the
Inquisition in Portugal. The coin was retained
by Sebastian (1557-1578).
Sao. A variety of paper money issued
in Annam during the twelfth century. It
was of two kinds, tlie smaller being valued
from one hundred to seven hundred Sapeques,
and the larger sort represented
higher values. See Schroeder (p. 48).
Sao Felipe, See San Felipe.
Sao Joao. See San Joao.
Sapeque, also written Sepek, is used
chiefly by French numismatic writers as an
equivalent for the Annamese Cash, of
which six hundred are equal to one Qwan.
Yule and Burnell, in Hohson-Jobson,
A Glossary of Anglo-Indian Colloquial
Words, 1886 (s. v. Sapeca), have the following
:
"This word is used at Macao for what
we call cash in Chinese currency; and it
is the word generally used by French writers
for that coin. It is very probably from
the Malay sa, i.e., one, and pakv, a string
or file of the smallest coins called piehis.
Sapaku would then properly be a string of
one hundred cash, but it is not difficult to
perceive that it might through some misunderstanding
have been transferred to a
single coin."
Crawfurd, Malay Dictionary, 1852, has
:
"PAku, a string or file of the small coins
called piehis." See also Indian Antiquary
(xxvi. 222) andZay (pp. 118-122).
Sar. A coin of Turkestan. See Yamba.
Saracenato, or Sarrazino. Another
name for tlie gold Denarius struck at St.
[
Jean d'Acre from 1251 to 1257. See Engel
and Serrure (iii. 947).
Saraceno. A coin of Ubertino of Carrara,
Signer of Padua (1338-1345), of the
value of a Qnattrino. It bore the figure of
a Saracen with wings and horns.
Sargpfennig. The nickname given to
small silver coins of the bishopric of Halberstadt,
issued in the early part of the
sixteenth century. They have on the obverse
the figure of St. Stephen, the patron
saint, who is supposed to bear some resemblance
to a body in a coffin.
Sata. An obsolete coin of the Malay
Peninsula. See Caixa.
Satamana. The name given to both a
gold and silver denomination of ancient
India. See Pana.
Satang. A bronze coin of Siam issued
pursuant to an order of King Chulalongkorn,
dated November 11, 1908. There are
multiples of five and ten Satang pieces in
nickel. One hundred Satangs equal a Tical.
Sateleer. The derivation is the same as
Sapeque {q.v.), and it meant originally the
same thing, i.e., a string of cash. It comes
from the Malay sa, i.e., one, and tali, a
string.
Stevens, in his Guide to the East India
Trade, 1775 (p. 124), says: "In Batavia
3 Cash are one Satallie; 6 Cash are 1
Sooka; 9 Cash are one Sooka Satallie."
The name Setale is still retained in Java
and the Malay Peninsula to designate the
current twenty-five cent silver piece of the
Netherlands.
Satrapal Coins is the generic name given
to the many varieties of coins issued by
Persian Satraps during the sixth to the
fourth centuries B.C. in various cities of
Asia Minor and Syria.
Saulen Piastre. The German name for
the Colonato.
Sawbuck. A nickname given to the ten
and twenty Dollar bills of the United
States with the figures X or XX, which
bear a fanciful resemblance to a saw-buck.
Scaggia. The popular name in Piedmont
for tlie piece of two Soldi, introduced pursuant
to an ordinance of October 26, 1826.
Sec Promis (ii. 202).
Scalding. See Salding.
210]
Sceat Scherf
Sceat, or Sksat (plural Sceattae). Small
thick silver coins, varying; in wcifrlit from
about seven to twenty frrains, and the earliest
productions of the Anglo-Saxon mint,
dating from the fifth to the eighth century.
They occur with both Runic and Roman
inscriptions and on some the name of London
may be read.
The word means "a portion," and it is
usually supposed that they were a portion
of some merely nominal sinn by which
large amounts were calculated.
It is difficult to ascertain their exact
value. In the laws of Aethelstan, King
of the West Saxons from 925 to 941, it is
stated that 30,000 Sceattae were equal to
one hundred and twenty pounds, and
Ruding says that "whatever might have
been the price value of tlie sceatta, it was
undoubtedly the smallest coin known
among the Saxons."
Schaap. A money of account formerly
used at Emden. Noback (p. 235) gives the
following equivalents
:
1 Gulden = 10 Schnap.
1 Schaap = 20 Witten.
Schaelgy. An early silver coin of Brabant
issued by Wenceslaus and Johanna
(1355-1405). "Three Schaelgy were equal
to two Grooten plus four Placken. See
Heylen, Antwoord op het Vrnrg-Sfiik, etc.,
1787 (p. 26).
Schauri. See Abbasi.
Schauthaler. The name given to a variety
of Tiialcr which is of a semi-medal! ic
character, and which is struck as commemorative
of some anniversary or as a
memorial rather than for general circulation.
Such pieces, also called Schaustiicke, are
frequently found in the series of the Holy
Roman Empire at the beginning of the
sixteenth century.
Scheepjeschelling, also known as the
Escalin au Navire. A variety of the Schelling
of tiie United Provinces which receives
this name from a ship under full sail on
the obverse. It was current for six Stuivers:
This coin was issued by the Province of
Holland in 1670, liy West Friesland in
1673, by Utrecht in" 1702, by Gueldres in
1716, and by Zeeland in 1750.
Scheepsnobel. The Dutch name for the
Noble (q.v.), so called on account of the
[21
prominent ship on the obverse. It wa.s extensively
cojiied in Brabant, etc.
The half of the same type was known
as the Schuitken or Schuytkcn, this word
meaning a small shij). There are dated
specimens as early as 1488, issued by Maximilian
during the minoritv of Philip the
Good. See Frey (No. 295").
Scheidemiinzen. Coins whoso actual
value is consideraiily less than their declared
value by reason of their mixed composition.
They are either silver with a
large proportion of copper and tin, or, as
is more frequently the case, cojjper washed
over with a thin coating of silver. The
latter soon wears otf, leaving the base metal
exposed. There are many modern examples
of this money. In (4ermany it was
common to the middle of the nineteenth
century, and specimens are found in England
during the reigns of llenrv VI 11 and
Edward VI. The base Shillings of the
former monarch had a full-face portrait
of the king, but the end of the nose bj'
reason of its prominence suffered the greatest
amount of abrasion. The base metal
was soon exposed, and from this circumstance
this ruler received tli(> sobriquet of
"copper-nose." See Billon.
Schelling, also called Escalin {q.v.).
Probably the best known coin associated
with the historj- of the Low Countries. It
was of silver though occasionally of billon,
and varied somewhat in value according to
the locality, ranging from five to eight
Stuivers, or one fourth of the Daalder.
The term Schelling is generally a])plied
to the issues for the provinces jiroper, and
is freciuentl.y iised in combinations, e.g.,
Roosschelling, Gehelmdeschelling, etc., all
of which are described pn.'isim. The name
Escalin, on the other hand, was used to
designate pieces struck for the Oriental
possessions, etc. See Snaphaan.
Scherf (plural Scherfe). A name given
to very small silver coins which were valued
at the half of a Pfennig. The word means
a fraction or fragment, and the designation
is most freiiuently applied to the earlj- and
poorly executed coins of Northern Germany,
and especially Pommerania and
Brandenburg. " Scherfpenige" are mentioned
as early as 1369.
Scherif. This may be a corruption of
Aslirafi or Sherify. Conf. also Sequin.
Schiessthaler. See Seliiitzenthaler.
Schiffs Dukaten. The name given to a
series of gold coins issued from 1682 to
1696 by the German African Company.
They obtain their name from a ship on the
reverse. In the State Papers of 1686 they
are referred to as Afrikanische Pfennige.
Schiffsthaler. A memorial silver Thaler
witliout date, and issued bv August, Duke
of Brunswick-Wolfenbiittel (1636-1666).
It has on the reverse a picture of several
vessels, and in the foreground the figure
of a man in a contemplative attitude, undetermined
whether to embark on a voyage
or not. The motto, alles mit bedacht,
confirms this unsettled condition, and the
coin is consequently also known as the
Reisethaler.
Schild. The Dutch equivalent for the
Crown or Ecu. The Gouden Schild (or
golden shield) is the same as the Ecu d'Or.
According to v.d. Chijs, this coin was introduced
in Brabant under Philip of Valois
(1327-1350) ; in Holland under William V
(1345-1359) ; and in Gueldres under Reinoud
III (1343-1361). A new type, called
the Brabandsch Schild {q.v.), was struck
pursuant to an ordinance of May 10, 1430.
Schild Groschen, also called Schildige
Groschen. The name given to silver coins
issued by the Margraves of Meissen during
the fifteenth century, which have a promi- '
nent shield on both obverse and reverse.
Schilling. The etymology of the term is
in doubt. Some authorities consider it a
corruption of Solidus, and it is thus translated
in mediaeval archives. The old German
scellan, to ring, and the scild, or
shield, have also been suggested as possible
I'oots.
Originally it was a money of account,
the pound of silver being divided into
twenty Sehillinge of twelve Denarii. As
a coin, bearing this name, it occurs in the
fifteenth century, and originally appears in
the Baltic Provinces. It was extensively
used in the currency of the Teutonic Order,
and was retained in the monetary systems
of Hamburg, Ijiibeck, Holstein, Mecklenburg,
etc, and in several of the Swi.ss cantons
until comparatively modern times.
See Shilling and Skilling.
[-21
Schilling Liibsk. A base silver coin common
to Riga, Stade, Stralsund, etc., in the
latter part of the seventeenth century. It
was equal to one forty-eighth of the Riksdaler.
Schinderling. The nickname given to a
base silver Pfennig issued in Austria from
1457 to 1460, and later in Salzburg and
Bavaria. The word schinden means to
fleece or extort, and these pieces were
forced on the people at a fictitious value.
About 1461 they were withdrawn from circulation
at their actual value, i.e., one sixth
of a pure silver Pfennig.
Schlagelpfennige. See Slegelpenninge.
Schlafrock Thaler. The nickname given
to the Convention Thaler struck by Frederick
August I, King of Saxony, in 1816,
because the badly engraved uniform of the
King resembles a dressing-gown.
Schlecht Thaler. According to Kelly
(p. 2) this was a former money of account
at Aix-la-Chapelle of the value of twent}'-
six Marks, and at Emden it was computed
at one and one half Guilders. The word
means a Dollar of low grade.
Schlickthaler. See Thaler.
Schmalkaldischer Bundesthaler. A silver
coin of Saxony and He.ssen, struck from
1536 to 1546 during the existence of the
League. These coins have on one side the
portrait of the elector Johann Frederick of
Saxony, and on the reverse that of the
Landgrave Philip of Hessen.
Wlien the city of Brunswick joined the
League, Thaler were struck dated 1538,
1545, and 1546. These have on the obverse
the emblematic lion of Brunswick and on
the reverse a figure of Christ rising from
the grave and Death at his feet. From this
design the names Triumph Thaler, Jesus
Thaler, and Auferstehungs Thaler have
also been given to this coin.
Schmetterlings Thaler. A silver coin of
Poland without date, but struck by August
II (1697-1733). It had a value of thirtytwo
Groschen, and received its name from
the butterfly on the reverse. There are
halves, quarters, eighths, and Groschen of
the same type.
Schnabelthaler. A silver coin of Zurich,
struck in 15.")9 fi'om designs by Stampfer.
Schnepfenpfennige Scilling
Schnepfenpfennige. 'I'lic Pfennige of
Ludwif;' von Solms, ])riiic(' of the Hovise of
Lifh, who siicccodt'd in 1824, are so named,
on account of a snipe on the obverse.
Schock Groschen. See Grosclien.
Schoter. Sec Skoter.
Schraubthaler. A variety of Thaler, the
sides of which unscrew like a box, and the
interior was used for holding portraits,
erotic objects, etc.
The earliest of these coins date from the
middle of the sixtoentli century. Au^^sburg
and Nuremberg;- were the principal places
of their mannfacfui'c.
For an extensive descriptive series of the
Schraubthaler, see Mitihvilutujen dor Bai/-
erischen Kumismatischen Gesellschaft, 1913
(p. 1).
Schreckenberger. See Engelsgroschen.
Schrift Bracteaten. See Bracteates.
Schrot. The term "Das Schrot" is used
by German numismatic writers to indicate
the weight of the alloy used for coining
any particular denomination, irrespective
of its fineness or purity. See Korn.
Schu. See Chu.
Schubbe. A base silver coin of East
Friesland, struck from the twelfth to the
fourteenth centuries. They appear to be
rude imitations of the Deniers and usually
bear small figures, e.<j., a hand, a cross, etc.
Schiisselpfennige and Schiisselheller,
meaning "saucei' shaped"" or concave, was
a name given to small base silver coins
wiiich were struck extensively in the Palatinate
during the sixteenth century, and
imitated in Brabant. They are uniface and
usually bear a device or figure in a beaded
circle. Dated specimens occasionally occur,
e.g., a Schusselheller of Johann von Schonburg.
Bishop of Trier, has the year 158!).
Schiitzen Thaler, or Schiessthaler. This
is not, strictly speaking, a coin, but a commemorative
medal, and common to Germany,
Austria, and Switzerland. In former
times when citizens were frequently
called upon to defend their homes and
property, these pieces had considerable
significance, but at present the.y only commemorate
a shooting festival held under
government auspices, or are issued as rewards
to such persons as are successful in
the shooting contests. See Tir Federal.
Schuitken, meaning a small boat, was
the tuime given b.y the Dutch to the Sycee
silver (q.v.), c.onf. also Scheepsnobel.
Schulpfennige. See Brabeon.
Schuppen. A nickname given to certain
very snudl silver coins of thin fabric,
struck by the bishops of Munster for Emden
during the fifteenth century. The
designation was apjilied on account of their
resemblance to fish scales.
Schurmann. A coin of Brabant, with a
corresixinding half, said to have been
struck under Wenceslaus and Johanna
(].3r)r)-1405). No specimens appear to be
in existence. See v.d. Chijs (p. 93).
Schusterthaler. The nickname given to
the Austro-Hungarian copper coin of four
Kreuzcr which was abolished about 1890.
Schuyt. See Sycee Silver.
Schuytken. See Scheepsnobel.
Schwanz Dukat. See Zopf Dukat.
Schwaren. The name given to former
base silver and copper coins of Oldenburg
and Bremen, equal to one fifth of the Grote.
In Oldenburg they appeared in the latter
part of the fourteenth century and usually
had a figure of St. Lambert. Those for
Bremen were originally issued about the
same time and were struck as late as 1866.
The name is probably from schiver, i.e.,
heavy, and denoted a heavy or thick Pfennig.
See Flinderke.
According to Jungk (p. 338), the
Schwaren of 1676 were the earliest bearing
a date.
Schwarze Pfennige. See Black Money.
Schweizer Bundesthaler. See Bundesthaler.
' Schwertgroschen. A silver coin struck
by Frederick IF of Saxony (obit. 1464),
which receives this name from the crossed
swords over a shield on the reverse. The
t>-pe was copied by several of his successors
during the fifteenth century.
Scilling, or Scill. An Anglo-Saxon money
of account which appears at an early
])eri()d in the laws, some fines being regulated
by it in the reign of Ethelbert, King
of Kent (.568-616). For a detailed account
of the etymology of the name see Ending
(i. 112-113).
Scimminger. According to Parish and
Shaw, A Dictionary of The Kentish Dialect,
1887, tliis is an obsolete term for "a piece
of counterfeit money made of base metal
and coated with silver."
Scissel. See Sizel.
Scorrick. See Scriddick.
Scott Pagoda. See Porto Novo Pagoda.
Scrat. An English dialect term for a
coin of very small denomination. Ross,
Stead, and Holderuess, in A Glossarfj of
Words used in the East Riding of Yorkshire,
1877, cite the following: "He deed
and didn't leeave a scrat behint. He's not
worth a scrat."
Scriddick. An English dialect term
meaning a coin of very small value. It is
common to a number of counties and is variously
written, e.g.. Scuddick, Scuddock,
Scuttick, Skiddick, Scurrick, etc.
Grose, Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue,
1823, has: "Scurrick, a half-penny."
Elworthy, The West Somerset Word-
Book, 1886, quotes: "I an't a-got nothin.
not a scriddick about me. '
'
Cope, A Glossary of Hampshire Words,
1883, has "not worth a scuddick;" and
Long, in A Dictionary of The Isle of Wight
Dialect, 1886, cites, "I can't lend ee tuppence,
vor I hain't got a scuddick about
me."
Scripulum. A name given to tlie earliest
Roman gold coin, issued about B.C. 206.
It was originally a silver weight of
eighteen grains in the Roman computation,
and later was admitted to the monetary
system. There are three values worth respectively
twenty, forty, and sixty Sesterces.
It was succeeded by the Aureus.
Scuddick. Scuddock. See Scriddick.
Scudino. A gold coin of Modena of the
value of one hundred and three Soldi. It
was introduced by Francesco I d'Este
{1629-1658) and continued until the end
of the seventeenth century. The name was
used to distinguish it from the Scudo di
Oro of one hundred and sixty Soldi.
Scudo means a shield, and the coin receives
its name from the figure of a shield
found upon it.
The silver Scudo, or Scudo di Argento,
of the Papal States was introduced in the
latter part of tlie sixteenth century. It
was usually divided into ten Paoli or one
hundred Baiocchi, and multiples exist. In
the Neapolitan coinage in the eighteenth
century the Scudo was equal to one hundred
and twenty Grani, and at Mantua to
one hundred and ten Soldi. See Ecu.
Scudo della Croce. A variety of the
silver Scudo first issued in Venice vinder
the Doge Nicolo da Ponte (1578-1585). It
receives its name from the floriated cross
on the obverse, and had a value of one hundred
and forty Soldi.
Scudo di Leone. See Leone.
Scudo di Oro. The gold Scudo is common
to the Italian series. It was issued
by Charles VIII of France as King of
Naples and Sicily, in 1495. There was also
a variety called the Scudo di Oro del Sole
struck by the same ruler, which had a sun
over the armorial shield. This was copied
by Louis XII of France for Genoa (1499-
1512).
Lucca as a republic issued the Scudo di
Oro in the fifteenth century, and in the
Venetian series it occurs under Andrea
Gritti and Pietro Lando (1523-1545). In
tlie coinage of Mantua it is found under
Frederick II (1519-1540), and Maria and
Charles II (1637-1665) struck the large
twelve Scudi di Oro.
The Popes introduced it early in the sixteenth
century and retained it almost continnouslj'
to the time of Pius IX. Its
value in the Papal series was one hundred
Baiocchi ; in other parts of Italy it was
the equivalent of one hundred and sixty
Soldi.
Scuferus. Du Cange cites this as being
the name of an early coin of Laon and also
current in Namur.
Scurrick. See Scriddick.
Scute. An obsolete English name for
the French Ecu {q.v.).
Caxton, in his Dialogues, 1483 (17), mentions
'
' Scutes of the Kyng, '
' and John Skelton
in his tract Why come ye nat to Courte,
1522 (167), has: "With scutes and crownes
of gold I drede we are bought and solde.
"
At a somewhat later period the word was
vaguely used for a coin of small value.
Thus, Thomas Nashe, in his Christ's Teares
over Jerusalem, 1594 (introd.), says:
"Therein I imitate rich men wlio hauing
gathered store of white single money to-
[214]
Scuttick Semision
gether, coiuiert a iiiiinl)er of those small
little scutes into jrreat jieeces of gold, sueli
as double Pistols and Portiigues.
"
lu Have with you to Saffron-Wahhn,
159G, another tract by Nashe, he says: "The
diuell a scute had he to pay the reckoning."
Scuttick. Sff Scriddick. This form of
the word is coniinoii to Northamptonshire,
Hampshire, and the Isk^ of Wight. It is
also wi-itten 8euttuck.
Scyphati Nummi. See Concave Coins.
Seawant. Sit- Wamjiuni.
Sebaldus Thaler. The popular name for
a Guldenthaler of Nuremberg struck in
1634 and 1635, which has on the obverse
the figure of St. Sebaldus holding a church
in his arm. See Madai (5065).
Sechser. A name usually given to pieces
of six Kreuzer or Pfennige. It is applied
to the Prussian half Silber Groschen of
the value of six Pfennige, and to the Groschen
of six Kreuzer i.ssued by the Archduke
Sigismund of Tyrol in the latter part of
the fifteenth century. See Dreier.
Sechsgrbscher. See Dreigroscher.
Sechsling. The double of the Dreiling
iq.v.), and like Sechser applied to the half
of the Silber Groschen.
This coin is of common occurrence in the
issues for Hamburg from circa 1553 to
1855, and during the French occupation of
the city in 1809 a billon piece was issued
with the inscription i. sechsling. Sec
Soesling.
Sechstel. A name generally applied in
the southern parts of Germany to coins
having a value of one sixth of a Thaler.
Sede Vacante Coinage. A term used to
define such coins as were struck by those
in temporary authority during an interregnum
in the regal succession. They occur
not only in the Papal series but al.so in
various archbishoprics, bishopries, etc. See
Vikariats Thaler.
Sedicina. A silver coin of Urbino and
Pesaro issued under the Duke Francesco
Maria II (1605-1606), for the Levant trade.
Its value was sixteen Qnattrini.
Seed. A slang name for a counter or
cliiji used in various games of cards. Its
origin may be due to its flat circular shajie,
resembling, in an enlarged form, certain
[21
seeds. The term appears to be confined to
tlie United States.
Seed Sen. See Tane.
Segeloh. A Javanese term used to designate
tiie silver Gulden of the Netherlands.
Sehim. A paper currency issued in Constantinople
in February, 1840. Tlie largest
denomination was two hundred Piastres,
and the paper money bore an annual interest
of twelve and a half per cent. See
Noback (p. 434).
Seignorage. A certain deduction from
all tlie bullion which was coined, and which
was used to defray the expenses of refining,
etc. See Brassage.
Seisino. A copper coin of the value of
half a Real, struck by Philip IV of Spain,
during the French occupation of Barcelona,
1640-1652. It must not be confused with
the Sixain (q.v.) struck by the French
during the same period. A similar piece
was issued for Villa Franca in 1642. See
Mailliet (exxiii. 4).
Sekel. See Shekel.
Seligkeitsthaler. A silver medallic Thaler
issued by Ernst, Duke of Sachsen Gotha
in 1672. It has rhymed cpiatrains on both
obverse and reverse, embodying the beatitudes,
a creed of belief, etc. See Madai
(1514).
Selmino. The popular name for a silver
coin of Guastalla struck in imitation of the
Anselmino of Mantua. It was issued principally
in the seventeenth century and bore
a figure of St. Peter.
Sema. The Greek arjixa, arjiJi-scov. See
Type.
Sembella. A small Roman copper coin
e(iual to the Sextans, and the half of the
Libella (q.v.). Also a silver weight ecpial
to the bronze Semis of the libral series.
Semis, or Sexcunx. The half of the As,
of a weight of six ounces. It bears on the
obverse the head of .Iu]iiter and on the
reverse the prow of a galley and the letter
S. See Aes Grave. Also used for the half
Aureus {q.v.) struck in Imperial times, in
place of the old name Qninarius Aureus.
The half Solidus (q.v.) was also called
Semis.
Semision (jsyLcatov). The Greek name
for tiie Scmissis or half Solidus.
Semissis. Another name for the Semis
(q.v.) when used to designate a half Aureus
or a half Solidus.
Semissis. A base silver coin of Strasburg,
the lialf of the Assis (q.v.).
Semistertius. Another name for the Sestertius
(q.v.). See Varro, De Ling Lai.
(iv. 36).
Semprevivo. A silver coin of Milan,
varying of the value of five and ten Soldi,
and issued only by the Duke Fi'aneiseo II,
Sforza (1522-1535). It obtains its name
from the plant sempre-viva, or house leek,
and this little emblem is usually represented
sprouting from three hillocks.
Semuncia. The half of the Uncia of
bronze (q.v.).
Sen. A word meaning a fountain, was
applied to certain Japanese coins as early
as the eiglith century. Copper was discovered
in Japan A.D. 707-708, and a metallic
currency was at once introduced. The Sen
was cast in copper. Conf. ilunro (passim).
This coinage, with fluctuating values,
was in use until A.D. 958, and then
for over six hundred years no coins were
made in Japan. In 1587 the manufacture
of copper Sen was resumed, and was continued
until 1863, when this coinage ceased.
Occasional iron specimens occur.
The Sen of the present Japanese coinage
is the one hundredth part of the Yen (q.v.).
Multiples exist in nickel and silver. Conf.
Chien. See Jiu Ni Zene, and Kwan Ei Sen.
The same designation is used in the
coinage of the Malaj^ Peninsula as an equivalent
for Cent. See Pitje.
Setfeige, or Synage, is money paid for
synodals, a tribute due to the bishop or
archdeacon at Easter.
John Wyclif refers to the custom, in a
tract written circa 1380, and reprinted in
his Works (edit. 1880, p. 249), thus: "And
whannc bischopis & here officeris conien &
fej'nen to visite . . .wrecchid curatis ben
nedid to festen him richely & geue procuracie
& synage."
Senar. A silver coin of the modern Persian
series ; it is the tenth part of a Kran
and etiual to two Shahi or four Puli, or
Abassi. See Sanar.
Senatorial Coins are such Roman coins
as were issued by the authority of the
Senate. They can always be easily distinguished
by the letters S. C, i.e., Senatus
C'onsulto.
Seneselli. A popular name for the silver
Grossi of Siena.
Sen!. A variety of spelling of Sen (q.v.).
Senio. The multiple of six Denarii.
Medallions of this weight were from time
to time coined by Roman emperors to
commemorate important events.
Seniorats-Dukat. The name given to a
gold coin of Anhalt-Cothen, issued by
Prince August Ludwig in 1747. It has on
the reverse a bear holding a shield on which
SENIOR DOMVS is inscribed. See Kohler
(No. 1707).
Seorai. See Pice.
Sepek. See Sapeque.
Septim Shilling. See Shilling.
Septunx. One of the divisions of the As
of the weight of seven ounces. It is of rare
occurrence. See Aes Grave.
Sequin. A colloquial form of Zecchino
(q.v.). This name was extensively adopted
in Turkey, Egypt, and the Barbary States
in general, and it appears to bear a relationship
to the Arabic sikka, i.e., a coining
die.
Early writers of books of travel adopt
this spelling in preference to the Italian
form. Morj^son, in his Itinerary, 1617 (i.
292), says, "At Naples . . . ten quatrines
make one sequin ; '
' and in the translation
of Tavernier's Grand Seignior's Seraglio,
1677 (14), occurs this passage, "The
Scherif, otherwise called Sequin, or Sultanine.
'
'
The name of the coin was variously
written, or rather corrupted, by the writers
of the seventeenth century, and consequently
we find Chequin, Chekin, Chickiuo,
etc.
Serafin. A silver coin of Goa. See Xerapliin.
Serinkie, i.e., "little gray coins;" a nickname
given by the people to the platinum
coins of Russia.
Serrated Coins, called Nummi Serrati,
from scrra, a saw, are characterized by
having their edges indented like the teetii
of a saw. Examples occur among the
Chahiues in the Syrian coinage, and in
certain Roman Consular Denarii.
[216]
Sescunx Sheep Silver
Sescunx. One of tlie divisions of the having nearly brought financial ruin to the
As, of the weight of one iuul one half
ounces. It is rarely met with. See Aes
Grave.
Sesen. The Swiss equivalent for the
Sesino, and usually applied to the half
Groschen. In the eanton of Waadt, it oecurs
as early as the period of Guy de
Prangius, Bishop of Lausanne (1375-1394).
Sesino, also called Sestino. An Italian
coin in both copper and billon, and originally
the sixth part of the Grosso (q.v.).
It was struck in Milan, Venice, Mantua,
Naples, and other principalities, and was
in use until the eighteenth century. The
Republic of Genoa issued a piece of eight
Sesini in silver in 1653.
Seskin. See Negenmenneke.
Sestertius. A Roman silver coin of one
fourth the weight and value of the Denarius.
It bears on the obverse the head
of Minerva and the figures iis, i.e., two
and one half Asses; the reverse was the
.same as on the Denarius.
The Sestertius became the recognized
money of account and is consequently frequently
referred to as Nummus. Under the
Empire it was struck in bronze. See
Grand Bronze.
Sesthalf. A Dutch silver coin of the
value of five and one half Stuivers. It was
abolislied by an Act of September 28, 1816,
and all outstanding pieces were redeemed
at twenty-five Cents.
Sestino. See Sesino.
Sesto. The name given to the one sixth
(if the Apuliense (q.v.).
Setale. See Sateleer.
Setin. Tlie one thirty-second part of the
Mark (q.v.).
Settimo. A silver coin of the value of
a Giulio and a half, struck bv Pope Clement
VII (1523-1531).
Settle. See Jettal.
Seufzer. The word means both a sigh
and a groan, and the nickname was given
to certain very debased silver pieces issued
in 1701 and 1702 by the Elector Frederick
August to defray the expenses of the wai"s.
They were valued at six Pfennige, aiul a
sigh accompanied their acquisition. They
were withdrawn from circulation in 1703,
country.
Seven Shilling Piece. See Guinea.
Sewan. See Wampum.
Sexagina. Du Cange cites this as a coin
of sixty Soldi referred to in an ordinance
of Casimir III, King of Poland, in 1335.
Sexcunx. Another name for the Semis
(q.v.).
Sextans. Tlie sixth part of the As. It
bears on the obverse the head of Mercury
and on the reverse the prow of a galley.
On each side are two bosses indicative of
its weight of two ounces. See Aes. Grave.
Shahi, or Shahy. A Persian silver coin
of tlie Sufi or Safi dynasty. It was one
quarter of the Abbasi and was equal to ten
pieces of the copper money called Kasbegi
or Kazbegi.
The Shahi of the coinage of modern Persia
is a copper coin of the value of two
Puli or fifty Dinar, and its multiples consist
of two Shahi equal to one Senar and
four Shahi equal to one Abbasi.
The Shahi was also a silver coin formerly
cui'reut in the Deccan and other
parts of India. There are many varieties,
some of them, e.g., the Pistan Shahi, deriving
their names from tlie individuals who
introduced them.
Shan Baw. The name given to certain
silver ingots used in the Lao States. These
are of a different form and more solid than
the As'ek (q.v.).
Sharp-Shin. A nickname given, on account
of its resemblance, to a coinage current
in Virginia and other colonies prior
to 1773. The coins were made by dividing
the Bit (q.v.) into four or eight parts.
Sheedy. The name given in several of
the islands of the West Indies to the Sjianish
Pistareen whei'c it was extensively used
at an enhanced value. See Chalmers (pp.
76-77).
Sheep Silver. Sir W. Jones, in his Reports,
1675 (280), states that this "is a service
now turned into money, which is paid
in respect that anciently the tenants used
to wash their lord's sheep."
Hibbert, in A Description of the Shetland
Islands, 1822 (p. 198), has the following:
"The compliment of an ox and twelve
sheep from every parish had . . . been granted to the Earl of Bothwell. It was
. . . converted into a perpetual tribute, under
the name of ox and slieep silver.
Shekel, or Sekel. Originally a weight,
this piece was incorporated into the monetary
system of the Jews under Simon Maceabaeus
(B.C. 143-135), who received the
privilege of striking coins from Antiochus
VII, King of Syria. Its value was fixed
at four Drachmai, according to the standard
of Tyre, and Flavins Josephus states
that it also was equal to four Denarii. See
Siglos.
The half Shekel was called Bekah; the
quarter was named Rebah ; and a further
division of one twentieth, called Gerah was
occasionally employed.
Sheriff Geld. A rent formerly paid by
a slierift' for the farm of his shire. The
Rolls of Parliament for the year 1376 (ii.
348) state that it was £13, 19 shillings, and
one penny per annum.
Sherify. A Persian gold coin. See Ashrafi.
Shiken, or Mihon Sen. The Japanese
name for an experimental or trial coin
either of governmental or private manufacture.
A pattei'n coin.
Shilling. This coin occurs as a money of
account in the Anglo-Saxon laws, but it
was first struck in 1504, as part of the third
coinage of Henry VII. Its weight was
twelve Pennies, or one hundred and fortyfour
grains.
A variety with the legend henric'
septim' di' gra . REX . angl' z . pra', is
cimnnonly known as the Septim Shilling
and is very rare.
In the English Colonies the Shilling circulating
in Cyprus was replaced in 1901
by the piece of nine Piastres. See Schilling,
Testoon.
The coinage of Scotland contains a large
mnnber of the multiples of this coin, there
being two, three, four, five, six, eight, ten,
twelve, sixteen, twenty, twenty-two, thirty,
forty, forty-four, forty-eight, and sixty
Sliilling i)ieces.
Shima Sen. The Japanese name for a
large class of poorly made Sen or coins of
private manufacture or counterfeits. Munro
aptly describes these as the gypsies of
till' ra<'i' dl' Sen. See Bita Sen.
Shi Mon Sen. See Nami Sen.
[-21
Shiner. A slang term for a gold or silver
coin in allusion to its lustre. In the
plural it is used for money in general.
Samuel Foote, in his ])lay. The Minor,
1760 (ii.),has : "To let a lord of lands want
shiners; 'tis a shame."
Dickens, in Oliver Twist (xix.), says:
"Is it worth fift}' shiners extra, if it's safely
done from the outside?" and Mayne
Reid, in his novel. The Scalp Hunters (ix.),
makes one of his characters say: "I will
bring von a mule-load of Mexican shiners.
See Half Shiner.
Shin Koban. See Koban.
Shin Plaster. A popular name originally
applied to the depreciated Continental
Currency after the War of the Revolution.
It was revived about 1837 to designate the
small notes for tlie fractional part of a
Dollar issued by private bankers during
the financial stress of that period. Finally,
the same name was given to the Fractional
Currencj' which appeared in 1862 when
specie payments were suspended.
Ship Money was a former tax levied in
time of war on the ports and maritime
towns of England to provide ships for the
royal service. It was revived by Charles
I, but was finally abolished bv statute in
1640.
In 1636 William Prynne issued a pamphlet
entitled Remedy against Ship Money.
Ship Nobles. See Noble.
Ships, Colonies, and Commerce Tokens.
The name given to a series of copper tokens
issued in the early part of the nineteenth
century for use in Canada. They are so
called from the inscription on one side, the
reverse bearing a ship or a bust.
There are about forty minor varieties.
See Breton (997-1002).
"
Shoe. See Sycee Silver.
Sho-Kang. A Tibetan coin of the value
of four Annas. See Tang-Ka.
Shon. See Yang.
Short Bit. See Bit.
Short Cross Type. The name used to
describe a series of English silver Pennies
issued from 1180 to 1247 inclusive, during
the reigns of Henry II, Richard I, Joha,
and Henry 111. They have on the reverse
a short double cross with a small cross in
each angle. For a detailed classification
Shovel Board Siege Pieces
see Numismatic Chronicle (Ser. iv. xvi.
356).
As all the short cross Pennies bear the
Maine iiENRicvs it is difficult to assi^rn them
accurately among the four different rulers
who struck them. See Long Cross Type.
Shovel Board. A nickname given to the
broad Shilling of Edward VI, whicli was
used as a counter in the game of shovelboard
or shuffle-board. See Shakespeare,
Merry Wives of Windsor (i. 1).
John Taylor, the Water Poet, in his
Works, 1630 (i. 68), states that "Edward
Shillings for the most jiart are used at
shouue-boord.
"
Showa Shoho. Sec Jin Ni Zene.
Shroffed Money is such as has been submitted
to ex{)erts, called "shroffs," or "surrafs,
" whose duty it was to detect the counterfeits
or pieces of infei-ior weight.
The custom was resorted to in the Far
East as early as the beginning of the eighteenth
century, and Beveridge, in his History
of India, 1862 (i. 592), states that
Lord Clive represented that "the money
could not be divided till it was .shroffed.
T. Brooks, in Coins of the East Indies,
1766 (49), cites an expense account:
"Brokerage, one and one half per cent.
Shroffage, one per thousand." See Soolakie.
Shu. A rectangular silver coin of Japan.
The Shu was the fourth jiart of the Bu
{q.v.), atul the sixteenth part of the Ryo
iq.v.). The \i Shu, meaning two Shu,
exists both in gold and silver, the former
being struck as early as 1697. Also see
Chu.
Shu. A denomination for the Lu Chu
Islands, ecpial to the one sixteenth part of
a Ryo, or sixty-two Mon. A half Shu in
copper was struck in 1862 at Satsuma for
these islands. Its value later declined one
half. See Munro (pp. 164-165).
Siahi. See Pice.
Siemi. A money of account formerly
used at Alejjpo. The Turkish Piastre is
here subdivided into twenty-four Siani.
See Noback (p. 6).
Si Bat. The same as Tamlung (q.v.).
Sicca, Siccapili, or Xiquipili. The native
names for the so-called "Axe Money" of
the Aztecs or native Indian tribes of Mex-
[ •2VJ
ico from its fancied resemblance to an axe
or chopper.
Authorities differ as to whether these
pieces were ever actually used as a currency,
or only for ceremonial purposes, although
divisions did exist, to wit
:
20 Cacao J{(>an.>:= 1 Ohitl.
20 Olotl = 1 Zontlr.
20 Zontip = 1 SiciHplll.
Bancroft, in Native Races of the Pacific
States of North America, 1875 (ii. 381-
382), states that Xiquipili is the Mexican
e(|uivalent for the number 8000, which in
the preceding table is confirmed {i.e., 20 x
20 X 20 = 8000).
Conf. Biart, Les Azteques, 1885 (pp.
199-200), aiul Joyce, Mexican Archaeology,
1914 (p. 287).
Sicca Rupee. A silver coin of Bengal,
mention of which is made in the seventeenth
century. By the treaty of 1765, it
was agreed that all of these Rupees, commonly
known as Siccas, be henceforth
struck at Murshidabad.
The Siri Sicca was the coin of the Hindu
rajahs previous to the Muhammadan eonquest.
Of many other varieties, the Chandor,
Belapuri, Chulnee, and Moonkhee Siccas
obtained their names from the towns
in which they were coined.
The name is derived from the Arabic
sikka, meaning a coining die.
A type of the gold Mohur struck by the
East India Company A.H. 1202, and later,
is known as the Sicca Mohur.
Side. A term used by French numisnuitists
to denote the Siglos {q.v.).
Siddiki, or Sadiki. The name given to
the half Mohur of Mysore by Tipu Sultan,
when he adopted his new sj'stem of reckoning,
in 1786, based on the Muludi, dating
from the birth of the Prophet. The name
is taken from Abu Bakr Siddik, the first
Khalifa.
Side-View. A nickname given to certain
varieties of the Pennies and half Pennies,
issued by the Bank of Montreal in the
years 1838 and 1839, to distinguish them
from the ordinary types which depict only
a front view of the bank. All these varieties
are very rare. See Breton (523-525).
Siebzehner. The popular name for the
silver coin of seventeen Kreuzer, issued in
Austria in 1753 and later.
Siege Pieces. See Obsidional Coins.
Sieges Thaler. A name given to such German medallic Thaler as were struck subsequent to and commemorative of some national victory. Notable examples are the Fehrbelliner Sieges Thaler, issued after the victory of the Great Elector over the Swedes in 1675 at Fehrbellin, and the commemorative piece struck after the Franco- German war in 1870. See Giustina.
Sigillum. Stevenson states that this term
was applied to a little image of something
imprinted on a medal as a mark.
Siglos. Another name for the early Persian
Sekel or Shekel. It was the twentietli
part of the gold Daric in value, and its
weight was the one hundredth part of the
Mina.
Like tlie Daric, the Sigloi were also popularly
known as Archers from the representation
of a bowman on the obverse.
The later Jewish Sekel or Shekel {q.v.)
has only the name in common with this
coin.
Sihansah. A gold coin of Akbar, Emperor
of Hindu.stan A.H. 963-1014 (1556-
1605). Thomas (pp. 418 et seq.) desci-ibes
Akbar 's coinage in detail, fi'om which the
following table is compiled :
Gold.
Sihansah — 100 L'al JalAli Jluhrs.
Sihansah = 1000 Rupees.
Sihansah = 40.000 Dfims.
Kaha = one half of the Sihansah.
Atmah — one fourth of the Sihansah.
Binsat = one fifth of the Sihansah.
Chahar GOshah, i.e., "square" = 30 Rupees.
Chugul -— 27 Rupees. .
Ilahl = 12 Rupees.
Aftftbl = 10 Rupees.
L'al Jalfili = 10 Rupees.
The .ift.lbi, is lighter in weight, but of purer golil.
Alii Gutkah = 9 Rupees. This coin is also calleil
Mlbrftbi and Mufnf, and represents the iirdinar,v round
Muhr of 360 DSms.
SiLVEU.
Rupee (round).
Jalfllah (square).
Darb = one half of the Rupee.
Cham = one fourth of the Ru|iei'.
Pandu = one lifth of the Uui)ee.
Asht = one eighth of the Rupee.
Dasa = one tenth of the Rupee.
Kalil = one sixteenth of the Rupee.
SOki = one twentieth of- the Rupee.
COPI'ER.
Dftm = 1 Tolah, f Mfishas and 7 Ratis
.riS'/j grains of eopp.
Adh^lah =
I'fiulah
Daniri =
nliout
half of the Dflrii.
fourth of the Dfini.
eighth of thi> Diim.
Sik. One of the names for the Siamese
one sixtccntli Tieal piece, known also as the
Song Phai or Song Pai.
Siki. See Suka.
Sikka. See Sicca.
Silbergroschen. A coin of Prussia, first
issued in 1821, and the thirtieth part of
a Thaler; it was subdivided into twelve
Pfennige.
This division of the Thaler was copied
in Saxony and Hanover, the coins in these
states receiving the name of Neugroschen,
but they were valued at ten Pfennige.
Silfvergyllen. See Gyllen.
Siliqua. A Roman silver coin first issued
by Constaiitine the Great, and in use until
the middk^ of the seventli century. It was
equal to one twenty-fourth of the Solidus.
From the time of Heraclius (610-641) the
half Miliarensis was called Siliqua.
There is a half Siliqua of similar type,
introduced by Houorius, and called the
Deeargyrus. The half Siliquae are frequentlj'
referred to as Minutuli, on account
of their diminutive size. Their weight is
frequently under two grammes, and their
coinage appears to have been confined to
the mints of Rome, Trier, and later to
Ravenna and Milan.
Silly Head. The popular name for one
of the varieties of the Cents of the United
States issued in 1839. It has an idiotic
looking head of Liberty on the obverse.
Silver. The metal which has played the
greatest part in the world's monetary systems.
In ancient times it was used in a
form much purer than that found in modern
coins. It is generally supposed that it
was first employed for coins in Aegina,
about the seventh century B.C. From
about the period of Alfred the Great to
tlie middle of the fourteenth century it was
the only metal used in England for coining
purposes.
Silverling. This denomination referred
to in Isaiah (vii. 23) is assumed to be another
name for the Shekel.
Simoleon. A slang term used in tln'
riiited States for a Dollar.
Simon. An English .slang term for a
Sixpence. The origin of the word is obscure
but it may be a fanciful use of the
personal name. The term is found in English
.slang dictionaries as early as 1700.
Simons' Petition Crown. See Petition
( 'rovvn.
[220]
Singula Skins of Animals
Singula. Another name for the Sembella
(q.v.).
Sirena. The popular name for the
ddulde Ducato d'Oro coined by Ferdinand
I of Naples in 1488, from desi<rns by Liparolo.
It bears tlie motto serenitati :
AC PACI PER.
Sisad-Dinar. A silver coin of Persia, iutrodueod
by llie Shah Nadir in 1738. Its
value was six Shahis or three hundred
Dinars.
Sisel. See Sizel.
Siseni. The Italian e(iuivalent of Sixaines
(q.v.). The term is specially applied
to coins of tlie value of six Deuari issued
bv Umberto II, Baron of Faucigni in Savoy
(l3:!;M349).
Sison. A copper coin of Valencia, equal
to six Dineros. It was abolished by an
ordinance of Charles III dated October 27,
17' ^fpNoback (p. 1307).
Sisto. The popular name for a silver
Grosso of Sixtus V (1585-1590) struck at
Bologna. Its value was forty-four Quattrini.
Sitarion (Titapiov). The name for the
fourth of tlie Siliqua whicli was struck at
intervals from the reign of Honoriiis.
Sixain. A French billon coin which, as
its name indicates, is the sixth part of the
silver Franc or Ecu.
It appears to have been originally struck
by Louis XII (1498-1515) of the type of
the Douzain (q.v.), and under Francis I
(1515-1547) there was issued a Sixain a
la Salamandre, having this animal on the
oi)verse, with a crown above.
Mailliet (xlii. 9, xi. 14, and Suppl.)
cites an obsidional Sixain struck during
the Freneli occupation of Barcelona, 1640-
1652, and another for the similar occujiation
of Gerona, in 1648. All of these
pieces are of copper.
Sixpence. An English silver coin of the
value of one half of a Shilling; it was first
struck in 1551 in the reign of Edward VI.
Henry VIII issued Sixpence for Ireland
with the inscription civit.\s dvblinik; these
coins, however, were struck in London.
In Cyprus, the Sixpence wa.s replaced in
1901 by the piece of four and one half
Piastres.
[
Sizel. Also written Seissel and Sisel.
The waste remains of a metal sheet or plate,
after it has had blanks or i>lanchets cut or
stamped from it. Conf. Fr. cisaille, from
ciselcr, to cut.
In a report of the mintmasters under
Elizabeth, fenip. 1572, mention is made of
"syssel" in tiie making of Sixpences. See
Numismatic Chronicle (ser. iv. vol. 16, p.
75). _ Sizinia, also called Nizim. Schlumberger
(182) cites this as the name of a ba.se silver
coin i.ssued bv .lanus, King of Cvpriis
(1398-1432). Its value was six Carci.
Sjen, more properly spelled Hsien (q.v.).
The Chinese name for the c()])i)er one Cent
piece introduced at Ilong Kong when under
British rule.
Sju. See Shu.
Skeat. See Sceat.
Skef, or Skefpennig. The popular name
for the lialf of the Norwegian Pennig. See
Blanchet (ii. 322).
Skerrick. Skiddick. See Scriddick.
Skilling. The Scandinavian equivalent
of the Schilling. It occurs in Denmark under
Christopher III (1440-1448) and was
continued to comparatively modern times.
Its value fluctuated but usuall.v it was computed
at ninety-six to the Rigsdaler. In
Sweden the Riksdaler was equal to fortyeight
Skilling, and in Norwa,v the Speciesdaler
equalled one hundred and twenty
Skilling.
All of these countries also struck the
Skilling in copper, which greatly varied in
size and value.
Skilling Banco. See Banco.
Skins of Animals were used as money
in tlie i)riniitive stage of man's existence.
The |)assage in .lob ii. 4 has been construed
by some writers to indicate that skins were
regarded as representatives of value. There
was at one time a comiection between skins
and mone.v, for in the language of the
EstJKinians the word for mone.v is raiui,
and ill tlie kindred language of the Laplanders
the same word means fur or a .skin.
Pelts were used in Scandinavia aiul when
tied in packages of forty constituted a
money of account called Zimmer. In western
Russia the fur and skin of the black
marmot was u.sed as late as the end of the fourteenth century. This was called Kuna,
from the name of the animal. Blanehet (ii.
191) .states that the heads of squirrels, Caput
aspcrgellis, were employed in Russia in
the eleventh century as a medium of exchange,
and were later adopted in Poland.
The Hudson's Bay Company made fur
skins the common medium of exchange and
measure of value in its dealings with the
Indians. Conf. also Breton (Nos. 926-
929) ; Noback (p. 895), and Leather Money
(supra).
Skoter, or Schoter. Originally a silver
weight and the one twenty-fourth of the
Mark. It was never used as a coin though
Halbskoter were struck by the Grand Masters
of the Teutonic Orders as early as the
fourteenth century, with the inscription
MONETA DOMINOBVM PRVSSIE. The half of
this coin was known as the Vierehen.
Sknifthaler. A term Tised by Scandinavian
numismatic writers to indicate the
Schraubthaler (q.v.).
Skutala (axuxaXa, axuTosXiSei;). The name
for ingots of metal, cast in bar form, often
circulating as actual money in ancient
times.
Slant. The Swedish equivalent for copper
coins of small value ; similarly Slantar
means loose cash.
Slantar. A general term in Swedish for
coins; it is, however, usually applied to the
i.ssues of copper which are known as Koppar
Slantar.
Sleeping. A base silver coin in circulation
in England during the thirteenth century.
See Brabant.
Slegelpenninge. An expression which
occurs in the media-val records of Munster,
and which is used to indicate the amount
of coins to be retained by the mint officials
as payment for striking. The modern
form would be Schlagelpfennige, from
srhlagen, to strike. See Brassage.
Sleng. A copper coin, plated with silver,
issued for the province of Battambang
in (Cambodia.
Slip. An obsolete word used to in<licate
c<)UMt('rfeit money.
Grosart, in iiis edition of tlie works of
Robert (ireene (x. 260), uiuler the year
1592, ((uotes: "He went aiul got him a
eertaine slips, which are counterfeyt peeces
of monj- being brasse, and couered ouer
with siluer, which the common people call
slips."
Slip Weight Money. ;S'ee Kia Tseh Ma.
Slug. The common name for the gold
coin of fifty Dollai's issued by various private
concerns in California from 1851 to
1855. Both round and octagonal specimens
exist.
Smasher. A vulgar term for a counterfeit
coin, and now rare. Mayhew, London
Labour and London Poor, 1851 (ii. 488),
has :
'
' Every bit of it, every coin, . . . was
bad,—all smashers."
Smelt. A nickname for a half Guinea.
See Megg and Decus.
Smoke Farthings were offerings made in
England at Whitsuntide b.y the householders
of a diocese to the cathedral church,
and also a hearth-tax based on the number
of chimneys in the district. Murray, in
the Oxford English Dictionary, cites its
use in this sense by quotations of 1524 and
later.
Smoke silver were the silver coins used
in paj-ment of the tax.
It was the common name for Fumage,
Fuage, or Fouage, i.e., a tax paid to the
sovereign for every house that had a chimney.
Smulkyn. A Farthing introduced in
Ireland during the reigns of Henry VIII
and Edward VI. Moryson, in his Itinerary,
1617 (i. 284), in speaking of the Irish
people, states that "they had also brasse
farthings, called Smulkins, whereof foure
made a penny."
In the Numismatic Chronicle (4th series,
XV. 192-229) Mr. Henry Symonds cites
some contemporary manuscripts, and points
out that three Smulkyns wei'e current as a
"red harpe," and four Snuilkyns were
eqtuU to a "white groat." See Harp.
Snaphaan, also called Elscalin au Cavalier.
A silver coin, a variety of the Schelling
(q.v.), issued in 1582 in the Provinces
of Gueldres, Utrecht, and Friesland, and
copied by Deventer and Zeeland. Its value
appears to have varied from six to eight
St ui vers.
The obverse bears tlu^ figure of a galloping
liorseinan and usinilly the date; on
the reverse is the armorial shield of the
province for which it is issued.
[ 222 ]
Soberano Soldo
Soberano. The Portuguese equivalent
of tho Sovorcifrn. It is a gold coin of
forty-five liundred Reis.
Soekoe. A Javauese monej- of aeeouut
of tlie value of one quarter of a Real. See
Pitjc.
Soesling, or Sosling. A corruption of
Scelisliug {q.w), and applied to the coins
struck b.v Christian IV of Denmark for
Liibeck, at tlic beginning of tlie seventeenth
century. The inscription, soesling lubs,
means six Pfennige based on the standard
of Liibeck.
Sol, or Sou. The word is derived from
Rolidus and was later corrupted into Sou.
It did not long retain its original name of
Sol d 'Argent, as it was struck in copper
during the sixteenth century, and during
the first French Revolution pieces of one
and two Sols appeared in bronze, a metal
obtained from melted bells.
Of other multiples there are pieces of
one, six, and twelve Sols in copper for
Geneva, struck in 1590, for the pay of soldiers
; billon three and six Sols were issued
in Luxemburg in 1790 ; one, two, and five
Sols were used during the siege of Mainz
in 1793 ; there are also issues for the
French colonies. The Sol was part of the
following system
:
During the first Revolution the Sol was
' divided into five Centimes, and the two Sou
piece was called a Decime. The name Sou
is still used in France for the five Centime
piece.
Sol. A silver coin of Peru of the value
of ten Dineros or one hundred Centavos.
It was adopted in 1855. There are multiples
of five, ten, and twenty Soles in gold.
Sola Coinage. A name given to the
first coinage of Mary of England, issued in
1553, the year before her marriage to
Philip of Spain. The Groats and half
Groats of this series bear the motto Veritas
TEMPOKis FiLiA, i.c, "Truth is the Daughter
of Time." This motto was suggested by
the Romish priesthood, in allusion to her
efforts to bring the country under Roman
dominion, after this faith had been suppressed
by her predecessors.
4 Llartls = 1 Denier.
12 Deuiers = 1 Sol, or Sou.
20 Sous = 1 Livre.
Solarus. The name given to a silver
coin of Mantua issued in 1624 to commemorate
the beatification of Luigi Gonzaga. It
was also used as the designation of a silver
Scudo of Ferdinand Gonzaga which bore
the figure of a radiate sun, and the motto
NON MfTUATA LUCE.
Sol aux Balances. An imitation of the
Frcncli Sol, issued in 1793 for Santo Domingo.
It obtains its name from the pair
of scales on the reverse. See Zay (p. 232).
Sol Coronat. A silver coin introduced
by the Kings of Spain for Naples and
Sicily in the thirteenth century, and later
copied by Charles V of France (1364-
1380) for Dauphiny. It receives its name
from the large crown on the obverse. See
Heiss (PI. 116, 2; 145, 12), etc.
Soldatino. Papadopoli (i. 160) states
that this term occurs in an ordinance of
1339 and is used for Soldino.
Soldino. The diminutive of Soldo (q.v.).
A small Venetian base silver coin of the
fourteenth century, which type was later
copied in other parts of Italy. The Soldino
Vessillifero receives its name from the
standard held by the lion on the reverse
of the coin. It was introduced about the
time of Doge Giovanni Gradenigo (1355-
1356) and continued in use for nearly a
century.
Soldo. Probably derived from Solidus
(q.v.). The name of a silver coin which
circulated extensively during the thirteenth
century and later in upper and middle
Ital.v, especially in Venice, Milan, Parma,
and Lucca. Its value varied, five to eight
Soldi being the equivalent of a Grosso
(q.v.), and its fineness gradually declined
and later the name was given to issues in
copper.
On the establishment of the French monetary
system in Italy under Bonaparte, the
value of the copper Soldo was established
at one twentieth of a Lira or five Centesimi,
and at this value it was current in
Austrian-Lombardy, Lucca, etc. The Italian
five Centesimi piece of today still retains
the name of Soldo.
Tliere are multiples of from two to one
hundred and sixty Soldi in silver and gold
for Venice, Mantua, and Modena, an odd
value of one hundred and three Soldi being
peculiar to the latter province. The Soldo of Ragiisa was a copper coin introduced in
1680, with a value of five PoUari, or in
the Venetian system of five Bagattini. It
was abolished in 1797. See Caixa.
Soldo Cenoglego. See Cenoglego.
Soldo Mancuso. See Maneoso.
Soldone. A Venetian coin of base silver
of the value of twelve Soldi. The same
name is given to a copper coin of Mantua
;
there are specimens of the latter issued by
Charles VI, Emperor of Germany, reading
SOLDONE . DI . MANTOVA . 1732. Its Value
Avas two Soldi.
Sol d'Or. See Sou d'Or.
Solidus. A gold coin introduced by
Constantine the Great. Its weight was
fixed at seventy-two to the pound and the
value is indicated by lxxii or ob. The
Greek name for the same coin was Nomisma.
This piece remained in circulation as
long as the Empire existed, maintaining its
full weight.
The divisions of the Solidus were the
half, called Semis or Semissis, and the
third, called Triens or Tremissis. Medallions
were often issued from the time of
Constantine on, which in weight equalled
one and a half, two, three, four, eight, etc.,
Solidi.
The Solidus was also current at a later
period in Western Europe and received the
name of Bezant or Byzant, on account of
having been previouslj' used in the Eastern
Empire.
Solidus. This name is invariablj^ translated
Scliilling or Shilling in mediteval
records and archives. It was retained to
some extent on silver coins of the Teutonic
Order, Poland, and various Baltic Provinces
as late as the sixteenth century. The
same name is also given to a copper coin
current in Livonia, Danzig, etc., from circa
1550 to 1750.
Solot, or Lott. The one sixty-fourth of
the Siamese Tieal, and which is equal to the
half Att.
Sol-sanar. A coin of Perpignan struck
ill 1.")2<S, pursuant to an ordinance of
Charles V. It bore a figure of St. John
the Baptist. Sec Blanchet (333).
Solthani. See Altun.
[2
Solz. Tliis name was given to a variety
of Fiorino copied from the Brabantine type
and issued by Alexander Pico of Mirandola
(1602-1637).*
Sommer Islainds Money. See Hog
Money.
Song. A Siamese word meaning two or
double. There is consequently in the coinage
a Song Bat, Song Pai, and Song Salung.
See Tical.
Sonnenkrone. The German equivalent
of the Ecu au Soleil.
Sonnette, i.e., a bell, is a French slang
expression for money that jingles in one's
pocket.
Sookoo. A silver coin of the value of
half a Rupee. A piece of two Sookoos was
struck at Fort ilarlborough, Sumatra, in
1783 and 1784, with Malay and English inscriptions.
See Suku.
Soolakie. The term Soolakie or Soolackie
as applied to coins is explained by a
letter to the Chief Secretar.y to the East
Indian Government at Fort St. George,
dated January 18th, 1813, wherein it is
stated that "there are two modes of rendering
coins Soolakie. . . . The one is
adopted for the most part by the petty village
surrafs in those territories (the Nizam's)
who, being in general very inexpert
in ascertaining the fineness of the metal, invariably
punch a hole in the rupee to convince
themselves that it is good silver; but
as this expedient is not sufficient to guard
against the frauds of coiners, who frequently
counterfeit rupees of copper covered
with a coat of silver, with one or two such
holes in them, it is usual for the surrafs,
when they have the slightest suspicion that
the metal is base, to punch a fresh hole in
it. In consequence, it is by no means uncommon
to see Rupees with eight or ten
such marks indented upon them. The other
kind of Soolakie coins are made so by the
surrafs of large towns who undertake to
.shroff the money belonging to individuals
for a certain percentage under an agreement
to make good any coins that may
afterwards turn out to be coiuiterfeit. In
order that tlie coins that have undergone
such examination may be recognized, each
principal surraf has a private stamp or
mark of his own, which he affixes to the
edge or some other part of the coin. The
24]
Sophiendukat Sovereign
existence of one or moro such marks
gives a sort of sanction to the currency, as
the credit of those who have put their
stamp to it is a pledge for its goodness.
Hence many rupees have forty or fifty
sucli impressions, and at last become completely
defaced. Neither of these modes of
making the Rujiee Sof)lakie diminishes at
all the weight of it, but, according to long
custom, its value in exchange becomes
greatly reduced when it is imported into
the Company's territories." See Shroffed
Money.
Sophiendukat. A gold coin struck in
1616 by the Eleetress Sophia of Saxonj' to
commemorate the birth of her son Johann
George. It has on the obver.se the letters
I . H . s . with an eye above and a dove below.
Sortengulden. A silver coin issued by
Ludwig VI of Hessen-Darmstadt in 1674
and copied by the archbishops of Mainz
until 1695.
Sosling. See Soesling.
Sou. French numismatic writers frequently
employ this word to indicate the
Stuiver. See Sol.
Sou au Faisceau. See Bezemstuiver.
Soudi Budschu. See Budschu.
Sou d'Or. The Solidus ; but the name
is more generally applied to the gold issues
of Western Europe, e.fj., the Carlovingian
Kings, to distinguish them from the Byzantine
types, which were contemporary.
Sou Mark, or more properly Sou
Marque. A name given to the billon
Marque after its introduction in the British
West Indies. See Marque.
Sous. The erroneous inscription UN sous
occurs on two varieties of tokens issued by
the Bank of Montreal from 1835 to 1838.
The dies for these were engraved at Birmingham,
England. See Breton (713-714).
Sou Tokens. The name given to a series
of copper tokens issued by the Bank of
Montreal to overcome the want of change
caused by the demonetizing of the private
coppers and brass pieces current in Canada.
See Breton (Nos. 670-716).
From the design of a bunch of flowers
on the obverse of the.se coins, they are frequently
known as the Bouquet Series.
[ 22.
Souveranitatsthaler. The name given to
a silver Thaler struck in 1657 by the Elector
Frederick Wilhelm of Brandenburg,
after the sovereignty of Prussia was as-
.sured liim by the treaty of Wehlau.
Souverain. A gold coin of Brabant and
the Low Countries, issued early in the
seventeenth century, and copied from the
English types of Mary and Elizabeth. It
was struck at Antwerp. Campen, etc., and
was larger than the Clinkaert (q.v.).
When the national Belgian coinage went
into effect in 1832, the Souverain d'Or was
discontinued.
Sovereign. A large gold coin of the
value of twenty Siiillings, fii-st issued by
Henry VII of" England in 1480. Being
twice the weight and value of the Rose
Noble it was frequently called the Double
Ryal. This beautiful coin contained only
one half grain of alloy, and weighed two
hundred and forty grains. On the obverse
was a representation of the King on
a throne and on the revei-se a rose charged
with the English shield.
In 1526 Henry VI II advanced the value
to twenty-two Shillings, but in 1543 the
old value was restored, and the fineness
debased to twenty-three carats. In 1545
the metal was still further debased to 20
carats, the lowest state of degradation
which it has ever reached in England.
The fourth coinage of the reign of Edward
VI issued by virtue of an indenture
of the year 1552, presents a new type with
a half length figure of the King crowned
and in armor, holding a sword and orb.
Mary raised the value of this coin to
thirty Shillings and the Sovereign of 1553
is the first English coin bearing a date.
In 1561 the value was again reduced to
twenty Shillings and the fineness made
twenty-two carats, and finally, in the first
coinage of James I, there is a Pound Sovereign,
valued at thirty Shillings; with the
second coinage the Sovereign ceases and
the T'liite (q.v.) takes its place.
Sovereign. A modern English gold coin
of the value of twenty Shillings or one
Pound sterling, first struck in 1817, and
which displays on the reverse the wellknown
design of St. George slaying the
dragon. It bears the initials of the artist,
Bernard Pistrucci.
The first half Sovereign is of the same
date, but the reverse bears a plain shield
of the Royal Arms, surmounted by the
crown.
The double Sovereign was issued from
1823 to 1826, inclusive, and revived under
Victoria, and the five Sovereign or five-
Pound piece appeared originall.v in 1887.
The Sovereign, the standard gold coin of
India since 1899, is equal to fifteen Rupees,
of sixteen Annas, each of four Pice, each
of three Pies.
Sovrano. A gold coin of the value of
forty Lira struck by Francis I of Austria
for the Dukedom of Milan and Lombardy-
Venice, pursuant to a regulation of November
1, 1823.
Spadaccino. The popular name for the
Giulio struck in Massa Lombarda, and mentioned
in an ordinance if 1560. It bears
the figure of St. Paul armed with a sword.
Spade Guinea. The name given to a
variety of tlie Guinea issued in the reign
of George III from 1787 to 1799, inclusive,
on account of the shovel-shaped shield on
the reverse, which bears a resemblance to
an old-fashioned spade, or to the spades in
a pack of playing cards. The half spade
Guineas are of similar design.
Spade Money. The name given to certain
of the ])rimitive and ancient coins of
China, resembling spades or pitchforks,
and which were probablj' derived from
actual implements following the barter
stage of that people. The Chinese name for
this kind of coin is Ch'an Pi, Pi Ch'an, or
Ch'an Pu. These pieces are sometimes
called Pu coins {q.v.), but this name
should be more correctly given to the
smaller coins derived from the spades.
The earliest were uninscribed and for the
most part have hollow square handles filled
with terra-cotta. Some later forms have a
plain flat handle. They were made from
pi'i'histofic times to about B.C. 22.'i. Closely
I'clatcd to these are the above-mentioned
Pus and the Weight Money {q.v.).
Spadin. .\ varietv of Denier issued bv
Fcrri I\', Duke of Lorraine (1312-1328).
It lias on the obverse the figure of a long
sword between two birds.
The tvpe was copied liv .Jean d'Arzilii'Tcs,
Bishoi) of Toul (1309-1320), and by
Reuaud de Bar, Bishop of Metz (1302-
[ 2-2 n
1319), who attempted to harmonize his
coins with those of his brother, the C'ount
of Bar.
Spadino. Another name for the silver
Scudo of Charles Emanuel 1 of Savoy issued
in 1630. It bears on the reverse an
arm holding a long sword.
Spagiirli. A base silver coin of the canton
of Luzerne. It appears to be a nickname
for a half Kreuzer.
Spanish Sixpence. A common designation
in Jamaica and other West India Islands
during the eighteenth century for the
Real of Spain, on account of its size and
general appearance. See Chalmers (pp.
6, 8).
Spanker. An obsolete slang term for a
gold coin, and frequently used in the plural
for money.
Abraham Cowley, in his play, The Cutter
of Coleman Street 1663 (ii. 5), says: "I'll
go and provide the Spankers ; "
' and Motteu.
x, in his translation of Rabelais' Paiitagruel
(vi.), mentions "Old Gold, such as
your Double Ducats, Rose-Noliles, Angels,
Spankers, Spur-Royals."
Speciesdaler. See Rigsdaler.
Speciesthaler. A name given to a Thaler
of a fixed standard value proclaimed by
an ordinance of 1566. In the monetary
conference between Austria and Bavaria in
1753, their value was specified at ten to
the fine Mark of silver. See Thaler.
Spesmilo. An Esperanto term for an
international money unit proposed as a
theoretical "money of exchange," by M.
Rene de Saussure, a well-known Swiss scientist.
As the name indicates, the Spesmilo
(abbreviated Sm.) consists of one thousand
Speso (1 Speso equals about $.0005). The
Spesmilo is subdivided into the Spescento
(100 Speso) and the Spesdeko (10 Speso).
Although proposed merely as a fictitious
m(mey of exchange, coins of the value of
one Siiesmilo and two Spesmilo have been
struck.
Theoreticall.v, the Spesmilo represents
the value of eight grammes of gold eleven
twelfths pure. For practical purposes it
is considered, approximately, to be the
value of fifty Cents (U.S.), two and one
half Francs, two Shillings, two Marks, one
Roulile, one Mexican Peso, one Yen, one
Sol, ten Piastres, etc.
]
Sphragis Stagnate
In 1!)()7, at its thirty-sixth session, the
"Association Frangaise pour rAvancemeiit
des Sciences" adopted the Speso as the
basis for an international "fictitious"
money. About that time the "Schweizerische
Bankverein" introduced experimentally
iiiternatioiuil Spesmilo checks, the values
heiufr indicated exclusively in the Spesmilo
system and the text being printed in
the international language, Esperanto.
Sphragis (TippaYi?). See Type.
Spie. A slang term for the current copper
one Cent piece of the Netherlands.
Spielmarken, or Spielpfennige. See
Rcclii'ii|)fennigc.
Spintriae. A name given to certain
tokens which occur in the Roman series,
on which there are obscene representations.
For a detailed account of their history and
probable uses see Nadrowski, in the Berliner
Mumblatter (No. 52), and Stevenson
(.<t.^^).
Spitzgroschen. The name given to a
series of silver coins struck by the Elector
Ernst of Saxony, conjointly with his brothers,
the Dukes Wilhelm and Albrecht, and
to some extent with his mother, Margaret.
The issue began about 1475 and continued
to the beginning of the sixteenth century,
and the type was copied by Ge])hard VII
for Mansf'eld about 1547.
The word Spitze or Spitz means a point,
or pointed, and the coins receive their
name from the decorations of the armorial
design on the reverse.
Spondulix. A slang name for money
formerly very common in the United
States. The origin of the term is unknown.
Sportula. A word used by Martial (Lib.
X. Epig. 75) to indicate a purse or sum of
money presented at banquets by rich persons
to their friends and clients.
Spottmiinzen, or Spottmedaillen. A
term used liy ({crman numismatists to indicate
i)ieces of a satirical character. .
Spousage Tokens. See Arrhes.
Sprat. All English slang term for a Sixjience.
The word occurs in The Slaxr/ f)ictioiKirii,
1839 fp. 34).
Sprenger. A silver coin of Liege,
Homes, etc., issued during the sixteenth
century and of the value of one fourth of
the Ecu or Thaler.
Sprinkle Dollar. A silver coin bearing
this name is said to have been maiuifactured
by an individual named Josiah
Sprinkle, who lived in Lewis County, Kentucky.
The pieces were claimed to have
been coined circa 1830-1835, and their
weight was heavier than the standard
Dollars of the United States. Rudely outlined
on one side was an owl, and the reverse
bore a six-pointed star. We arc inclined
to regard the entire story as a fabrication,
but details can be found in the
American Journal of Numismatics (xxx.
84).
Spruchthaler, and Spruchgroschen. The
general name for coins bearing a ([notation
from Scripture. Tliey are found in
the series of Brunswick, Sachsen-Weimar,
Mansfeld, etc.
Spurred Groat. A name given to the
Scottish Groat, introduced by David II
(1329-1371).
Snelling, View of the Silver Coinage of
Scotland, 1773, states that the expression
arose from the mullet or spur in the quarters
of the cross on the reverse of these
coins.
Spur Ryal. A term generally applied
to tlie half of the Ryal wiiicii was tirst issued
in the reign of Edward IV, but more
particularly to the gold fifteen Shilling
piece of the fifth coinage of .James I
(1619), the rays of the sun on this coin
resembling the rowels of a spur.
Squiddish. An English dialect term for
a very insignificant sum of money. In
Northumbei'land it denotes the twentieth
part of a Farthing.
Ssojuznyia. The name given to early
Russian convention money liearing the
titles of two princes. Sec Blanchet (ii.
193).
Stabler. A nickname given to small silver
coins struck in Southern Germany
during the fourteenth century from the
bishop's staff held in the hand of the figure
on the obverse, which is a prominent feature
on many of tiiese ])ieces.
Stag. An English slang term for a Sliilling.
The word occui"s in The Slaiirj Dictionarn.
1857 (p. 20).
Stagnate. An Italian expression, usually
applied to such of the Roman bronze coins of the later Empire as were coated with
tin to give them the appearance of silver.
Stambul. See Zer-mahbub.
Stamma. See Aboiuljidid.
Stampee. A name given to the Cayenne
Sous when punched or stamped by the
Island governments or merchants of the
British West Indies. Their value varied
according to the localitj-, but on the island
of Trinidad an English half Penny is
known counterstamped 1 stampee. See
Tamijc.
Star Pagoda. A name given to a variety
of the Madras Pagoda, which bears on the
obverse a large five-pointed star on a granulated
convex surface, and on the reverse
a figure of Vishnu. See Pagoda.
Statendaalder. A silver crown issued
by Philip 11 in 1578 for general circulation
in Gueldres, Utrecht, and Overj-sel.
The obverse bears a half-length portrait
of the king holding an uplifted
sceptre. There are corresponding halves
and quarters, as well as Statensehellinge
iq.v.).
Statenschelling, also called Klopschelling
and Placaatschelling. A variety of
the Sehelling of the Low Countries introduced
in 1672 in the Province of Groningen,
and copied in 1675 at Utrecht. It
was hammered or stamped (Kloppen, to
beat, to liammer), and the obverse bore a
figure of an armed rider, while on the reverse
was the shield of arms dividing the
value, six Stuivers. See Zesthalven.
Stater. The unit of the gold coinage of
ancient Greece. Its iisual division was the
sixth, or Hecte (q.v.), but there are also
halves, thirds, and even smaller parts; for
Ionia there exists a one ninety-sixth Stater
struck in electrum. Multiples of the Stater
are unusual, hut they are found occasionally.
Thus Alexander the Great issued
double Staters, and Eucratides, King of
Baetria. (B.C. 190-160) struck a twenty
Stater piece, the largest gold coin of antiquity.
The silver Stater varied in weight, according
to locality. In general the term
Stater was given to the principal silver
coin of each city. Thus the Corinthian
Tridrachm, eciual in weight to two Attic
Drachms, was known liy the name Stater,
while at Athens the Tetradrachm, being the
principal coin issued, was there called a
Stater.
Steckenreiter. See Hobby Horse.
Steenie, sometimes also written Steinie.
An obsolete Scotch and English dialect
name for a gold coin or Guinea. Skinner
Poems, 1809 (71), has the line:
A bag fnU of iiocir .vellow stoinies.
Steinbock Pfennige. The name given to
certain varieties of Deniers struck in Austria
at the beginning of the fifteenth century
pursuant to ,an ordinance of Duke
Albrecht IV. They have the head of the
eapricornus or ibex on the obverse.
Steinie. See Steenie.
Stella. A experimental coin of the
United States, the value of which, four
Dollars, is based on the metric system,
being intended to serve as an international
coin. These coins were made on the request
of the United States Minister to Austria,
their exact value, three Dollars and
eighty-eiglit Cents, being that of the former
Austrian eight Florin piece. The
name is derived from the large five-pointed
star on the reverse and they are the work
of W. W. Hubbell, the patentee of the
goloid metal. They were issued at the
Philadelphia mint in 1879 and 1880, and
were composed of six grammes of pure
gold, three of silver, and one of copper.
Stellino. A silver coin of Florence
struck by Cosmo di Medici (1536-1574)
and continued by his successor, Francesco
(1574-1587). The obverse has a bust of
the Duke and on the reverse is a seated
figure of St. .lohn the Baptist. The name
of tlie coin is derived from the star used
as a mint-mark, and the issue of these
pieces it is claimed was made to repay a
loan from the Genoese.
Stephanensis. See Estevenante.
Stephanusdaalder. A silver coin of
Nimegue issued pursuant to an ordinance
of October 23, 1523. It bears a figure of
St. Stephen on the obverse. There is a
gold Florin, called Stephanusgulden, of
similar tj'pe.
Stephening. See Salding.
Sterbe Denkmiinzen. See Mortuary
Pieces.
28]
Sterling Stone Money
Sterling. Tlii.s word, as applied to coins,
appears to be derived from Esterlings, i.e.,
people from the east of Europe, some of
whom were employed in the thirteenth
century in regulating the coinage of England.
The coins made by tliem were variously
called Esterlins, or Easterlings, a
term later abbreviated into Sterlings.
On August 16, 1257, a writ dated at
Chester was i.ssuod, commanding the Mayor
of London to proclaim in that city that
"the gold money which the King had
caused to be made should be immediately
current there and elsevvlun-c within the
realm of England, in all transactions of
buying and selling, at the rate of twenty
pennies of sterlings for every gold penny."
This refers to silver Pennies.
In many transactions these coins were
weighed, and the term Pound Sterling survives
to tliis date as a standard. See Esterlin.
Sterling. A name frequently given to
the silver Penny of Scotland. This type
was introduced by David I (1124-1153),
and was similar in many respects to the
contemporary English Penny of Stephen.
The term was in use until the middle of
the thirteenth century; in the reign of
Alexander III (1249-1292) the silver
coins are iisually referred to as Pennies, a
designation subsequently adhered to.
Stem Groschen. A peculiar type of
Groschen common in the coinages of
Cleve, Juliers, etc., during the fifteentii
century aiul later. The reverse has four
large stars, one in each angle of the cross.
Stichtsche Stuiver. Tlie name given to
a variety of Stuiver i.ssued by the towns
of Campen, Deventer, and Zwolle, in 14SS,
pursuant to an ordiimnce of the same year.
See Frey (No. 308). The word means
coins that will stand the test.
Stickamstam. A Scottish and English
dialect term for a coin of very small value.
It is now obsolete but at one time was applied
to the Scottish half-penny.
Stips, whence the English word stipend.
According to Livj', this name was applied
to the Aes Grave when stored in quantity
in chests or warehouses on account of its
bulky nature. See Stevenson (p. 135).
[2
Stiver. The same as Stuiver (q.v.). The
word in this form is used on the English
issues for Ceylon, struck in copper and silver
from 1801 to 1815, and on tokens for
Essecjuilw and Demerara from 1813 to
1838.
Stockfischthaler, The name given to a
silver coin struck by Duke Hein-y Julius
of Brunswick-Liineberg in 1612. Tlie reverse
has the figure of a codfisli lying on
a block, which is being beaten by two hands
holding hammers. There is also a satirical
inscrii)tion implying that some persons,
like the codfish, must be beaten to overecmie
their indolence.
The tvpe was copied in Hamburg in
1620.
Stone Money. Edniond Planchut, in a
reference to the Caroline Islands, contributed
to the Scientific Review (Sept., 1885),
states that "in that mysterious archipelago
. . . the monej' consists of circular stones,
which have a hole in the centre, and vary
in diameter fnmi twenty centimetres to
one metre. With this stone currency, the
material of which is very hard, and which
comes from the neighboring islands of
Palaos, where it is also used for the same
purpose, the natives pay their tribute to
the chiefs of their villages." The native
imme for this money is Fci.
Mr. Howland Wood in The Nutiiismatlst
(1906) described the curious stone money
of Yap, one of the Caroline Islands. In
the same periodical (1911) he adds that
stone used as currency is not confined,
however, to this group of islands, as upon
the testimony of the missionary Spiess, it
was used formerly also on the Gold Coast
and in the vicinity of Togoland on the west
coast of Africa. On his return to Europe
Spiess brought with him four specimens
of these stones, of which three were of
crystalline quartz and the fourth of a
softer component material. The (piartz
specimens were iiolished, of a diameter of
forty to fifty millimetres, and of a thickness
of fifteen to twenty millimetres. The
holes in the centre of the stones were funnel
shaped from both sides, evidently iiulicating
that the coins were intended for
suspension. "This stone money,'' says
Spiess, "is obtainable in only one district
of the Gold Coast and is now no longer in
use."
Some years ago some laborers on the
road between Lome and Palime in Togoland
discovered a quantity of these stones,
and they were sent to Europe by one of
the officials. The specimens confirm the
earlier observations of Spiess. The}- are
of a white and yellowish crystalline quartz,
and appear to have received a polish from
the action of water. Their diameter varies
from thirty-two to sixty millimetres, and
their thickness from fifteen to twenty millimetres.
With this lot was found a single
stone, C3'lindrical in shape and of a material
resembling jasper; the height of the
same was eighteen millimetres, and the
diameter twenty-six millimetres.
It is supposed that this specimen represents
some higher unit of value than the
remainder.
Stooter, or Stoter. A base silver coin
of Gueldres, Overysel, C'ampen, Zeeland,
etc., struck in the latter part of the sixteenth
century. It bore the head of the
Earl of Leicester and was valued at the
twentieth part of the silver Daalder.
The name is still retained in Holland to
designate the current copper coin of two
and one half Cents.
Stoter. See Stooter.
Stotlnka. A copper coin of Bulgaria,
adopted in 1867 when this country based
its monetary sj-stem on that of the Latin
Union. One hundred Stotinki are equal to
one Lev. It is also referred to as the Kantem
or Canteim, i.e.. Centime. Bronze
pattern pieces of ten Kantems were struck
in 1880 and 1887.
Straw Money. See Lebongo.
Streitpfennlge. The papular name for
a copper coinage of Erfurt, the principal
city of Thuringia. The name means dissention
or quarrel.
At the beginning of tlie sixteenth century
the local mintmaster did not always
comply with the ordinances governing the
weight and purity of the coinage, which
led to fre(|ueiit complaints from neighboring
principalities wliere those pieces were
circulated.
Strohthaler. A nickname given to the
Silesian twenty-four Kreuzer pieces, which
were very common at the beginning of the
seventeenth century. They were of verj'
base composition, poor fabric, and the
Thaler at that period was divided into
twenty-four parts, i.e., Grosehen.
Stiiber. A German billon and copper
coin corresponding to the Dutch Stuiver
(q.v.). It is of frequent occurrence in
Juliers and Berg, East Friesland, and Oldenburg,
and appears to have been introduced
in the latter part of the fifteenth
century, continuing in use until the beginning
of the nineteenth.
Stuiver, also variousl.y written Stuyver,
Stiver, and Stiiber, was originally a billon,
and later a copper coin of the Low
Countries and various German States,
dating from the middle of the sixteenth
century. The Munten Ordonnantie of 1576
gives forty Stuivers as the equivalent of
the silver Rijder of Friesland and Gueldres.
A later Ordonnantie of 1652 mentions
thirty Stuivers as being equal to one
Ducatone, fifteen Stuivers as equal to a
quarter Crown of Burgundy, one quarter
Stuiver as equal to one silver Oord, and
five Stuivers as equal to a Spanish Real.
There is an extensive series of Stuivers
issued by the Dutch for their possessions
in the East, struck in copper, lead and
silver. For details conf. the works of
Moquette and Millies {passim). See also
Stiver.
The word is still retained in Holland to
designate the current copper coin of five
cents.
Stuk van Achten. The Dutch equivalent
for "Piece of Eight." It is applied
to such coins as were struck for Java, etc.,
and which corresponded to the Piastre or
eight Reaals. Conf. Netscher and v.d.
Chijs (i. 1), Verkade (199, 1), and see
Peso.
Stuyver. A more archaic foi-m of
wi'iting Stuiver {q.v.).
Styca. This coin occurs only in the issues
for Northumberland, and it appears
to begin with the reign of Ecgfrith (670-
685), and concludes with the year 875,
when the Danish King Halfden conquered
the territory.
The name is supposed to be derived from
the Saxon word sticce, a minute part, two
Stycas being equal to one Farthing. The
composition of the coins was of a mixed
metal ; in one hundred parts there were
sixtj' to seventy of copper, twenty to twen-
[ 230]
Styfer
ty-five of zinc, six to eleven of silver, and
traces of gold, lead, and tin.
The Stycms usually have crosses with
pellets in the angles on both obverse and
reverse; tlie name f)f the rulei- and moneycr
is irenerall\' added.
Styfer, Pronounced as if written Styver,
is applied to both small copper and
small base silver coins of Sweden. It is
the Scandinavian e(|nivalent for Stuiver.
Stykke. A small silver coin of Denmark,
eiliiiil 1(1 one fiftii of the Species Daler, oione
fourth of the Rigsdaler Courant.
Subaerati. See Plated Coins.
Suckauhock. See Wampum.
Sucre. A silver coin of Ecuador of the
value of one hundred Centavos. It receives
its name from Antonio Jose de
Sucre, a South American patriot who
fought under Simon Bolivar. lie was born
at Cumana in 1793, and in 1819 had so
distinguished himself that he was made a
brigadier general of the insurgent forces.
In 1822 he defeated the Spaniards at Chiciiinclia,
and, liaving become commanderin-
chief when Bolivar was made dictator,
he routed the troops of the viceroy in the
battle of Ayachuco, Peru, December 9,
1824, which established the independence
of the coinitry. For this signal victory
Bolivar made him grand marshal, and in
1825 he was elected President of Bolivia.
lie was assassinated soon after his election
to the Constituent Congress in 1830, due,
it was .said, to the jealou.sy or instigation
of Gen. Ovando. His portrait appears on
most of tlie coins of the Republic.
Sueldo. A silver coin of the Republic
of Bolivia, of tiie same value as the Real,
i.e., one eigiith of the Peso. iSV'e Fonrobert
(9475, 9481, 9524, etc.)."
At Perpignan, in the Pyrenees, a billon
Sueldo was issued during the French occujiation
from 1G42 to 1655.
The Sueldo of Ferdinand VII (1808-
1833) was the Spanish ecpiivalent of tlie
Soldo, and was ecpial to si.x Doblers. It
was a cojjper coin and ajipears to have been
issued chictly foi- Majorca.
Suitenmedaillen. A term used by German
numismatists to indicate medals that
have a regular se(|uence on account of a
series of portraits, recording successive
events, etc.
[ 231 ]
Sun Dollar
Suit Silver. According to Wliarton,
Law Lexicon, 1864, this was "a small rent
or sum of money paid in some manors to
excuse the freeholders' ajipearance at the
courts of their lord.''
Suka, Suki, or Siki. The basis of the
silver monetary system of Nepal introduced
by the Gorkhas, who used two varieties
of currency as under .-
Pacis Ganda Sv.stk.m
1 ilohur = 2 Suka.
1 Siiku = 2 Do-ani or 2.'> Dhcbuas of (<ii»|n>i-.
I'cjnrobert (2325 ct ncq.) states that tlii' Suka is I'liiuil
to the quarter Mobur, and the A<lhn (2:t24) Is Ihi'
half.
1 Do-anl = 6 Dyaks. or double I'iie.
1 Dj-ak = 2 Dhebuas. or 2 I'aisa.
1 Dhcbua = 4 Dams (i-opper).
1 l>am = 2 Phoka Dams, or Chun Dnnis.
SOURA (lANOA SVSTKSI.
1 Mohur = 2 Suka.
1 Suka = 2 Do-uni.
1 Do-ani = 2 Ek-anl = (
i/i Molniri.
1 Ek-ani = 2 Adha-ani.
1 Adha-aui = 1 silver PU-e, or I'aisa Midiur-.
1 Paisa IMohur. i.e., Vyj Mohur — 2 Do-Diiin. nlsi>
called Adha-paisa.
The Suka is ba.sed on the weight of the
Tola {q.v.), and the Nepalese gold coins
follow the same standard, i.e.—
I>uit(de .\sarfl = i Mohurs = 2 Tolas = MW
triiy ;,'rains.
I'.akla Asarfi = 2 Mcdiurs = 1 Tola = ISd Iroy
Krains.
Patla or Majhawaia = 1 Mohur = \'.> Tola =
IH) troy grains.
Suka Asarli = Va Mohur =^ V4 Tola = 4."> troy
grains.
Sukl = % Mohur = Vie Tola = 22.."i troy grains.
Anl = Via Mohur = Vaa Tola = ll.T.'i troy grains.
.-Vdha-anl = V.i2 Mohur = '/«i Tola = n.S7 troy
gl'ains.
Pal = Vm Mohur = Vi2» Tola — 2.93 troy graiuN.
Dam = Vawj Mohur = Vj.s Tida = 0.71 troy
grains.
Suki. A silver coin of lii<lia, and e(|ual
to tiie twentieth part of a Rupee. See
Sihansah.
Suku. The Dutch equivalent of the
Suka (q.v.). Tlie Dutch counterstamped
these pieces in 1787 with the v.o.c. mark
for their i)ossessions in Ceylon.
In tiie JIalay Peninsula the Suku is one
fourth of the Real or Spanisii Dollar. The
word means a (piarter. See Sookoo and
Pitje.
Sultanine. Tavernier calls this the same
as the Seipiin [q.v. xiiprn).
Sultany Altun. See Altun.
Sun Dollar. A name given to the Peso
of Costa Rica on account of the design
wliicli represents the sun rising behind
mountains. Suskin. The English diminutive of the
French Sou. This debased coin was current
in England for a long period. The
parliament in 1424 decreed that it should
no longer be used, but this ordinance was
but little regarded, as it was found necessary
to put a stop to the entire circulation
of these pieces in 1519.
Sutlers' Checks. The tokens issued by
the sutlers, i.e., the military victualers
corresponding to the canteen-keepers of
the present time, attached to the various
regiments and posts of the Northern Army
during the Civil War in the United States.
At first, for a short time, these checks
were of eardlioard or paper, but these soon
disintegrated through wear and were replaced
bj' metallic issues. This currency
had free circulation in the regiment or
brigade for which it was issued, and formed
the greater part of the small change. The
denominations ranged from five to one hundred
Cents. The issue is without artistic
merit, being of interest from the historic
point of view only. See Wood in Am.
Journal of Numismatics (xxxvii. 23, and
xlvii. 163).
Suvama. An early Indian gold coin,
of tlie value of twenty-five Karshapanas,
and weighing one hundred and forty to
one hundred and forty-four grains. Cunningham
(pp. 7, 22) states that it "also
was a simple bag of gold dust, such as is
still current in Kumaon, of the value of
eight Rupees. Each of these gold dust
bags is now called Phetang. " See Pana.
The name Suvarna means "beautiful
color. '
'
Svanzica. The Italian name for the
Austrian Zwanziger (q.v.) introduced by
Francis I (1815-1835) into the currency
of Milan. It is also known as the Lira
Austriaea.
Swami Pagoda. A name given to one
of the Madras Pagodas, which has a male
and two female figures on the obverse.
One of the titles of Krishna was Chenna
Keswam Swami, and from this the name
is probably derived, the females being
Lakshmi and Kukmini. The weight of
this Pagoda is somewhat more than two
pennyweights. The revcree has a granulated
surface. See Pagoda.
Swarf Money, or Warth Money. According
to Wharton, Law Lexicon, 1864,
this was a sum of money "paid in lieu of
the service of castle-ward."
Swarte Penninge, i.e.. Black Pennies.
Sec Korten, Black Money, and Zwarte.
Swine Pennies. A local English term for
money rooted up by swine. Defoe, in his
Tour through Great Britain (iii. 9), states
that in Littleborough, Lancashire, "great
numbers of coins have been taken up in
ploughing and digging, which they call
Swine-penies, because those creatures sometimes
rout them up."
Sword and Sceptre Piece. A name
given to a Scottish gold coin of James VI,
issued in 1601 and later. It was of the
value of six Pounds and derives its name
from the sword and sceptre in saltire on
the obverse. There is a half of the same
type of the value of three Pounds.
Sword Dollar. A silver coin issued by
James VI of Scotland, of the value of
thirty Shillings, which receives its name
from the upright sword on the reverse.
It is also known as the Ryal {q.v.), and
except for differences in the figures of
value the one third Ryal and the two
thirds are of the same type.
Sword Money. See Knife Money.
Sycee Silver. The name Sycee, from
the Cantonese Hsi Ssu, means "fine floss
silk," and it is given to these ingots in
allusion to the purity of the metal, which
is apparently a native silver. It is xnin
into circular or shoe-shaped ingots, called,
in the Dutch East Indies, Schuyt or
'
' boats, '
' and bears an inscription or stamp
on its upper surface. The standard ingot
weighs about fifty Taels, though smaller
ones are made. All ingots or shoes, however,
are not of such pure silver or
"touch." See Ting and Yuan Pao for
the various Chinese names for these silver
ingots.
These "shoes," as they are sometimes
called, are used for the purpose of paying
customs duties, salt duties, and land taxes.
See Prinsep (p. 33).
Symbol. A device found on coins and
medals which bears no relation to the inscriptions.
Thus the owl is a symbol of
wisdom, the anchor of hope, the lamb of
purity, etc.
[232]
Synage Szostak
Synage. See Senage. mund I (1506-1548), but later in copper.
Syssel. See Sizel It^ original value was twelve Denarii, or
Szelag. The Polish equivalent for the '"^^ <^™'*' """"^ ^^'^ ""'Itiples were:
Sc-hilling or Shilling The word is pro- ^;^J^
= ^ ^l^'^-
noUIK-ed Sehellong. Czvorak = 48 Deuarll.
Szelong. The Polish ((luivalent of the ^^"^^"^ = ''^ """"'"•
Solidus, first issued in silver under Sigia- Szostak. See Szelong.
[