NOTE ON THE COINS OF VABALATHUS.
(Vol. iv., pp. 255. 427. 491.)

Since the publication of my last note on the coins of Vabalathus, I have obtained the Lettres Numismatiques du Baron Marchant, 1850. The original edition being very rare, and I believe only three hundred of this one having been printed, I have thought it might be as well to record some additional information from it in your pages. Marchant reads, "Vabalathus Verenda Concessione Romanorum Imperatore Medis datus Rex." It is needless to remark on this, further than on the more ancient interpretations. He points out that the Greek letters, or rather numerals, show the coins to have been struck in a country where Greek, if not the popular language, was that of the government, along with Latin. This country was necessarily an Oriental one, and I think this observation would rather lead to the inference that the word VCRIMDR, occupying the place usually filled by Cæsar, Augustus, ϹΕΒΑϹΩϹ, &c., might be an Oriental title, though expressed in Latin letters. Millin, to whom he had communicated his view, thought correctly "que ça sentait un peu le père Harduin," and it was only published in the posthumous edition of his works. De Gauley has published coins struck by the Arabs in Africa, which have Latin legends, in some of which the Arabic titles are given in Latin letters. The Emir Musa Ben Nasir appears thus, MυSE. F. NASIR. AMIRA. The coins of Vabalathus offer a more ancient example of the same. I have given what appears to me the clue, and I hope it will be followed out by Orientalists. M. de Longperier, in his annotations to the 28th letter, shows that the name Ἀθηνᾶς is derived from Ἀθηνόδωρος, and appears to think ΑΘΗΝΟΥ or ΑΘΗΝΥ the genitive of ΑΘΗΝΑϹ. The difficulty, he says, is, that names in ᾶς have, in the Alexandrian dialect, the genitive ᾶτος. He does not appear to have noticed the reading as ΥΙοϹ (or ΟΥ as Ο ΥΙοϹ?), which appears to me to remove the difficulty, but also to obviate the necessity of the name Ἀθηνᾶς at all. He remarks on the similarity of name between Αθηνας, Αθηνατος, and Odenathus.

"If," he says, "we examine comparatively Vabalath (ΟΥΑΒΑΛΑΘ) and Odenath, or rather Odanath, as in Zosimus, we see an analogous formation; Ou-baalat, Ou-tanat, the feminine of Baal or Bel, and of Tan, Dan, or Zan, preceded by the same syllable. Baalat is a Scripture form (Jos. xix. 44.; 1 Kings ix. 48.; Paral. ii. viii. 6.). De Gauley has found the name of Tanat in a Phœnician inscription, and Lenormant remarks that this feminine form of Zan, or Jupiter, corresponds to Athéné. Thus Ou-tanat is the equivalent of Athenas, consequently of Athenodorus."

Vabalathus is thus, if these etymological considerations be correct, the son of Odenathus. Longperier proposes to read ΕΡΩΤΑϹ for ϹΡΩΙΑϹ, and to consider this the equivalent of Herodes, mentioned by Trebellius Pollio. With all deference to M. de Longperier, I venture to oppose the following objections. First, Some coins read ϹΡΙΑϹ, which would read ΕΡΤΑϹ on his principle. Since, in the coins of Zenobia, Vabalathus, and those bearing the name of Athenodorus, whether struck by Vabalathus or not, is not material at present, we find the names at full length, not omitting the vowels, it is natural to suppose that the same would here take place, if the word really were the name of Herodes. To explain, if we found ΖΗΝΟΒΙΑ and ΖΝΟΒΙΑ, ΑΘΗΝΟΔΩΡΟϹ and ΑΘΝΔΡΟϹ, or similar contractions, we might consider ΕΡΩΤΑϹ and ΕΡΤΑϹ identical. Secondly, On my specimens of this coin I find the ι in this word distinctly formed, and the Τ in the next word ΑΥΤ as distinct. All authors have read this letter ι, although varying in the rest. Thirdly, On the obverse of these specimens the Ε is larger and more open than the Ϲ, as may be seen in the conclusion ...ΝΟϹ . ϹΕΒ, where it is preceded by two sigmas, and is easy to compare with them. We should naturally expect to find it having the same form on the reverse, if the reading ΕΡΩΤΑϹ were correct. But it is of the same size as the other letters, on my specimens at least. I need not say that there is no trace of the central stroke.

W. H. S.

Edinburgh.

THE AGNOMEN OF "BROTHER JONATHAN," OF MASONIC ORIGIN.

George Washington, commander-in-chief of the American army in the revolution, was a mason, as were all the other generals, with the solitary exception of Arnold the traitor, who attempted to deliver West Point, a most important position, into the hands of the enemy. It was this treasonable act on the part of Arnold which caused the gallant Andre's death, and ultimately placed a monument over his remains in Westminster Abbey. On one occasion, when the American army had met with some serious reverses, General Washington called his brother officers together, to consult in what manner their effects could be the best counteracted. Differing as they did in opinion, the commander-in-chief postponed any action on the subject, by remarking, "Let us consult brother Jonathan," referring to Jonathan Trumbull, who was a well-known mason, and particularly distinguished "for his sound judgment, strict morals, and having the tongue of good report."

George Washington was initiated a mason in Fredericksburg, Virginia, Lodge No. 4, on the 4th of November, 1752, was passed a fellow craft on the 3rd of March, 1753, and raised to the sublime degree of a master mason on the 4th day of August, 1753. The hundredth anniversary of this distinguished mason's initiation is to be celebrated in America throughout the length and breadth of the land.

W. W.