There is a somewhat curious mystery with regard to certain works of the immortal Rubens, which some of your readers, who are connoisseurs in art, may possibly assist to dispel. Lommeline, who engraved the finest works of Rubens, has left a print of "The Judgment of Paris," which differs in several points from the subject of "The Decision of Paris," now in the National Gallery. For instance, in the one, Paris rests the apple upon his knee, and in the other he is offering it to the fair goddess of Beauty. This print has also five more figures than there are in the Gallery painting. Now, two questions arise hereon: first, what has become of the original painting from which this print was taken? and secondly, where is the line engraving of the picture now in the National Gallery?

J. J. S.

Downshire Hill, Hampstead.

THE PAXS PENNIES OF WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

Perhaps some of your numerous readers may be able to satisfy me on a subject which has for a long time troubled me.

All coin collectors are aware that there are many different reverses to the pennies of William I. One is commonly called the pax-type: and why, is the question.

On the obverse, it is "PILLM REX," or sometimes differently spelt; but "P" always stands for "W," and pronounced so.

On the reverse, it is P A X S (each letter being encircled), but the "P" is here pronounced "P;" this is in the centre compartment: surrounding it is the moneyer's name, with place where the coin was struck—"EDPI (Edwi) ON LVND," "GODPINE (Godwine) ON LVND," &c. It is very inconsistent that letters should be pronounced differently on the same coin.

I am rather of opinion that we have not arrived at the right reading, and that pax has nothing to do with it. It is PAXS, AXSP, XSPA, or SPAX: for I find, on comparing nineteen different coins, the letters stand in different positions compared with the cross, which denotes the beginning of the inscription around them; so no one can tell which letter of the four in the circles near the large cross should come first. Besides, what does the "S" stand for, after you get the "PAX?"

I am not a member of the Antiquarian Society, but have asked gentlemen belonging to it to explain this puzzle (to me), without success. I now ask them and others, through your pages, to give a solution of the difficulty.

W. M. F.