-Lettre du 14 décembre 1647 (from Westminster to Nijmegen) : [f.177v] Vix enim ulla elabitur septimana, in qua, aenea, aurea, vel argentea Numismata mihi oblata, aliaru’ emptione, aliaru’ ex redundantibus meis commutatione non adipiscor. ... [f.178r] praestantissima Georgii Villerij Ducis Bokamiae ... numismata ... [f.178v] viros gravissimos eruditissimosque Jacobum Usserium Archiepiscopum Armachanum, et Patricium Junium, Regi Magnae Britannicae a Bibliothecis ... sub Theatri Numarij Romani titulo, quatuor editurus sum libris. In primo omnes Numos Consulares, quod Ursinus, Goltzius, Gorlaeus, alijque nobis exhibuerunt, vel me penes sint. In secundo Imperatorios, aliosque omnes a Julio Caesare usque ad Marinianam Valeriani Patris coniugem: In tertio reliquos a Gallieno usque ad Heraclium, Occoni qua memoratos qua omissos exhibebo. In quarto Glossarium Numarium, in quo omnia ad rem Numariam intelligendam necessaria alphabetico disposita ordine discutiam. Clarissimos me penes Numos Consulares hucusque ineditos, et unum, binosve aliorum omnium a Julio Caesare usque ad Heraclium aere caelatos, eadem qua sint magnitudine, non autem una omnibus tributa, uti Gorlaeo, Hemelario, alijsque infoelicisssime observatum est, mensura, typis, mandabo. ... [f.179r] Ditiori sane pretio Henricus Princeps Cambriae Gorlaei Thesaurum, millibus tribus solutis nostrae monetae librarum nactus est, in eo enim Aurei 825, Argentei 5597, Aenei 2912, maiorem partem Romani omnes, et inter eos plurimi rarissimi numerati sunt, inter quos duo minimum milia ectypa, et fusilia reperta fuisse non diffiteor, sed illis etiam quae ex auro et argento conflatae essent, secundum eorum pondus valor constitit. Et praeterea in eodem Thesauro, Agates, Heliotropia, Sardae, alijque pretiosi lapides missi 200, et antiqui annuli, aurei argentei et ferrei, quibus aliae 12 genus gemmae includebantur 195 reperti sunt, quae Omnia tam Numismata quam gemmae, annulique, pro illis tribus librarum millibus venibant. ... Sic igitur exoratus ut extemplo mihi hac dare respondeas, ad amicum tuum in Italiam scribas, ne tam opportuna inexpectataque incassum redeat oblata felicitas. De collybista enim rogitare, cuius ope pecunias vel in Italia vel in Belgio dependam supervacaneum erit, donec certius a te nuntium accipiam. vereor enim ne tot in Italia Principes totque Roma Purpurati tantum non neglecturi sint Thesaurum" (British Library, MS Harley 377, ff.179r-v ; Burnett 2020b, pp. 313, 332, 353, 472, 524, 527-8, 1415-16)
[outstanding coins of George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham ... very important and very scholarly men James Ussher, the Archbishop of Armagh, and Patrick Young librarian to the King of Great Britain ... under the title of Theatre of Roman Coins, I will publish in four books. In the first will be all the Consular coins which Orsini, Goltzius, Gorlaeus and others have set out for us, or which may be in my collection. In the second, I will publish the imperial coins and all the others from Julius Caesar to Mariniana the wife of the elder Valerian. In the third, the rest from Gallienus to Heraclius, both those recorded by Occo and those omitted. In the fourth will be the Numismatic Glossary, in which I will discuss, in alphabetical order, everything necessary for understanding numismatics. I shall order my best and hitherto unpublished Consular coins, and one or two of all the others from Julius Caesar to Heraclius to be engraved in copper, and at their real size, not using one size for all, as is unfortunately to be observed in Gorlaeus, Hemelarius and others, and with their measurements and types. ... At a really greater price Henry Prince of Wales acquired the Treasury of Gorlaeus, having paid three thousand pounds in our money; in it were 825 gold, 5597 silver and 2912 bronze coins, the greater part all Roman, and among them many were reckoned of the greatest rarity, among which I am sure were found at least two thousand moulded and cast pieces, but even for them, since they were made out of gold and silver, their weight gave them a value. And furthermore in the same Treasury were sent 200 Agates, Jaspers, Sards, and other very precious stones, and 195 ancient rings of gold, silver and iron, in which another 12 types of gem were set, were found, and all the coins, gems and rings came for those three thousand pounds...
[after describing his coin collection] So, induced in this way, I think you should reply immediately and write to your friend in Italy, so that such an opportune and unexpectedly offered piece of good luck offered should turn not out to be fruitless. It will be unneceassary to ask about the banker, with whose help I may pay the money either in Italy or in Belgium, until I receive more certain news from you. For I fear in case all those Princes in Italy and Nobles in Rome may not overlook such a great collection. ] (translations from Burnett 2020b).
