ANCIENT SYMBOLS FOR METALS The following letter of interest from J. White of Bec School, London, appeared in Science Progress, 23, 687 (Apr., 1929). "DEARSIR,-A short while ago I was much impressed by the marked similarity between our present numerals and the ancient symbols for the metals. "I give below the symbols, transcribed as faithfully as possible, from Campbell Brown's History of Chewistry, and the figures I derive from them.
-
.
-
Gold
(Sun)
Silver (Moon)
Copper (Venus)
(Mars)
0
1
2
3
Iron
-
-
Tin
Lead Antimony rJupiter) (Saturn1
.
7
8 and 9 could he made by starting the rows again in twos as
$ P.
4
5
6
-
Mercury
"I at once began to see if this order could be justified by any sequence common of old, such as the planets which ruled the days of the week, the order of value, use or rarity of the metals, etc., but so far I have found none. "Of course, I am well aware that our numerals are usually regarded as of Arabian origin, but there is much indefiniteness in the matter. Also, I know of the commonly accepted origins of the symbols, such as the caduceus of Mercury, the looking-glass of Venus, the shield and spear of Mars, etc., origins which were I believe first tentatively offered by M. Berthelot in his Introductioe d l'&ude de la Wzewie des Anciens et a u Moyen Age. But for all this I cannot help feeling that the resemblances, especially in the case of two or three, are too marked to be accidental, and a t least I hope that the matter may provide interest or amusement or both to the readers of your worthy journal."
