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Message:: [QUOTE="EWC3, post: 4535533, member: 93416"]Puts me on the spot Doug. Brings to my mind something that rude fellow William Clinton tended to say around 1992. Instead I will quote the more sophisticated idea of Ibn Khaldun, in his “Introduction to the History of the World” - that what he was trying to get at was the “inner meaning of history”. And in so far as coins assist us in understanding the ‘inner meaning of history’ – it is their own inner meaning - the metal and its weight – that I think comes first. Ha! You see. The tankas of Alauddin are so common even people who do not know it have one! Rather good too – full mint and date! Delhi 714 (I hasten to add the reading is due to the kindness of my talented wife). I remain very interested in Roman history – but – its “inner meaning”. I think Nero perhaps shared my interest? Why else would he promote Petronius, who wrote of the civil war: Nor less in Mars's Field Corruption swayed,Where every vote was prostitute to gain;The People and the Senate both were sold.E'en Age itself was deaf to Virtue's voice,And all its court to sordid interest paid,Beneath whose feet lay trampled Majesty.E'en Cato's self was by the crowd exiled,Whilst he who won suffused with blushes stood,Ashamed to snatch the power from worthier hands.Oh! shame to Rome and to the Roman name!'Twas not one man alone whom they exiled,But banished Virtue, Fame and Freedom too.Thus wretched Rome her own destruction bought,Herself the merchant, and herself the ware.Besides, in debt was the whole Empire bound,A prey to Usury's insatiate jaws;Not one could call his house, or self, his own;But debts on debts like silent fevers wrought,Till through the members they the vitals seized.Fierce tumults now they to their succor call,And War must heal the wounds of Luxury[/QUOTE]

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