Pera of Constantinople, Dec. 17 1658
Dear Sir
I find myself overcharged with courtesy by a gentleman, whom I had not the happiness formerly to know, but now think myself familiarly acquainted with, at least with the better part of him, his soul, by that glimpse of goodness and ingenuity which you have been pleased to discover unto me; and in all reason I am the more to esteem your kindness, by how much I am conscious how small invitation my desert could afford it: for as to the merits you are pleased to allege, I have so little right to them, that I am far from pretending to any; however I gladly and thankfully embrace your friendship, which I shall always esteem as a great honour; and being other wise unable shall correspond in hearty affection and due observance of it.
The news of Mr Stock’s death must indeed of necessity be very ungrateful to me, as it hath plunged me into some streights, and splitt all my designs of future travel, whereof his assistance would have been the main support for the medals I have bought. I am glad they are fallen into my hands, not despairing hereafter to obtain you a sight of them. I have improved that knowledge in them, which that worthy gentleman Mr. Fitton was pleased to impart to me, in which I have made no small progress, not meeting with much matter else to exercise upon, nor indeed much enquiring after any, my slender accommodations not enabling me to purchase any curiosities for myself, had they presented themselves. Mr. Fitton’s paper of the value and rarity of Medals has proved a valuable treasure to me, and enables me to give you an account of some in my possession; amongst them some I can pleasure you with. If you want a Julian II or the Apostate, which is amongst the rarest, I can furnish you; as also with a Tryphon, which is one of the best among the medals of the Greek princes; a Pescennius Niger in silver, with a Latin inscription, is not so good as a Greek one, but I believe more common. I have by me, of brass four hundred, of silver sixty, and three gold; the brassbetterthananyIeveryetmetwith:thegold are very fair medals of Nero, Antoninus Pius, and Hadrianus. Amongst the silver these, viz. Seleucus (the fairest medal that I ever saw), Gordianus, Philippus, Decius, Otacillia Severa, Julia Domna, Marcus Aurelius, Severus, Nerva, Vespasianus, Treb. Gallus, Diadumenianus, Hostilianus, Volusianus, Her. Etruscilla, Adrianus, and other Greek and Latin, all I am confident true.
Pray enquire if there ever were Antiochus Euergetes or Demetrius Philadelphus; I have two medals of those inscriptions, but cannot learn that there were any such men. The Pescennius Niger I sent you, make much of, as it is rare. I have found the Hanniballianus which Tristan makes so much of; a small medal of brass, almost the same he represents; also two medals of towns he puts a value upon; viz. that of the Mirinians in silver and of Cossa in gold.
By the help of my French friend I know medals throughout, and what to refuse of them; so find few to buy. I send you a note of some medals which (according to my directions) should be good ones; perhaps I have others that are considerable and have overlooked them. I have Antiochus Euergetes and Demetrius Philadelphus, as I have said before; but I perceive they are not on the list; the latter has ΝΙΚΑΤΟΡΟΣ, after Philadelphus. I mention these to assure you that I am not mistaken; and wonder the skilful person you consulted about them never heard of either of them, nor had seen a Pescennius Niger with a Latin inscription. A silver Otho is nothing near the value of a brass one.
I know not whether I inserted into the Catalogue of medals I sent you one with this inscription, LIB. BON. EVENT. SCRIBON. PVTEAL. I believe it may be explained by a passage of the thirteenth of the Annals of Tacitus, towards the latter end --- Iisdem consulibus auditae Puteolanorum legationes, &c.
There was a fine silver medal brought me the other day, viz. Nicomedes Epiphanus, the characters Greek. I bought likewise the African Gordian’s, which I think is esteemed a rare one, and half a dozen others of the same metal; amongst them an Antiochus, an Alexander, and a piece, with an owl on one side and a Pallas on the other, in Greek letters Athens on it.
I hope now to be untacked from this place, to which by a fatal chain, I seem tied, Prometheus like; and that this day (if the winds and Turks give leave) I shall take my passage for Venice, but touching at Smyrna. From Venice, my intention is, after very small stay, to haste through Holland and Germany into England.
I doubt whether I shall see or salute our friends in Italy, though I should be very desirous of the content, that I might have an opportunity more fully of expressing to them my sense of your kindness to me, and to know if in any thing I can be subservient to your virtuous inclinations. In the mean while be pleased to accept of the hearty thanks and earnest good wishes of
Your faithful
humble servant
Isaac Barrow
(Burnett 2020b, pp. 1482-3)
