The munificence of a Glasgow merchant, Mr. James
Stevenson, (Maecenas in respect of his Italian possessions,)
has enabled a new edition of that catalogue to be undertaken,
and the first volume, illustrated by collotypes, is now
published. It is practically a new work, as Mr. George
Macdonald, M.A., has included all the Colonial imperial
pieces, as well as the whole of the British, Gaulish and
Spanish Mints. But the republican money, the Imperial
gold, silver and bronze greatly outnumber these, and the
Western Empire is continued in a rich set of Papal and
other Italian medals. The English and Scottish coinages
are copiously represented, and there is a choice group of
Renascence medals besides those in the Papal series. The
whole collection numbers about 30,000 pieces." ^

Dr. Combe's Catalogue **was far ahead of anything known
at the time." For the first time, the weight, metal and size
of every coin was stated. It was dedicated to the Queen,
and the Latin preface states that upwards of £20,000 had
been eicpended on the collection. A manuscript account by
Dr. Hunter, preserved at Glasgow, accounts for more than
£22,000. The Catalogue was to have extended over seven
volumes, and the last of these, comprising the Saxon issues,
had been committed to the Rev. R. Southgate.^ The other
volumes were to include (1) continuation of Dr. Combe's
division, (2) money of Persia, Phoenicia, Samaria, Palmyra,
Carthage, etc., (3) coins of the Kings, (4) Imperial coins
struck in the Colonies and Greek cities, and (5) unpublished
Roman coins. But all was interrupted by Hunter's death
in 1783.3

The visitor should not omit to see the fine Armada medal,
struck to commemorate the event and throwing a singular
light on the feeling of the time. The Spanish ships with
their great curved hulls are shown in a storm at sea, the
scene being exquisitely moulded. On the reverse is seen a

* "The finest eyergot together by a private indiyidual" (Macdonald). The foregoing
paragraphs haye been kindly contributed by Professor John Young, M.D., the Keeper of
the Museum, than whomno one can speak of its stores with more right or fuller knowledge.
