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168 as Gaulish coins, at first imitating those of Greek origin.

Late Celtic Period in Britain.—We now proceed to investigate the archæological phenomena of the early Iron Age, as disclosed by the antiquities discovered within the British Isles. This subject becomes comparatively easy in light of what we have seen as to the sources from which their inhabitants derived the models and art motives which inspired the artistic productions of the inhabitants. The effect of these foreign influences on British civilization was to develop a new school of art, which, though retaining the primary features of its Continental prototypes, presented so many deviations, both in design and execution, that it is now regarded as a third and final stage in the evolution of the Celtic art of Europe. Among the first to clearly define this unique group of antiquities in Britain was Sir A. W. Franks, who, as one of the editors of Kemble's Horæ Ferales, named it "Late Celtic"—an expression which has since become common in archæological literature. His description of the principal objects, in that group, so far as they were then known to him, is prefaced by the following remarks:

"In the peculiar class of antiquities now to be considered, the British Islands stand unrivalled; a few ancient objects, analogous in design, may be found in various parts of the Continent, and more extended researches in local museums may bring many others to