Republican Herald

The "Old Dominion."—We copy from Howe's History of Virginia, the following in reference to the appellation of the "Old Dominion."

It is quoted there as being from the Savannah Georgian.

Origin of the appellation "Old Dominion."

There is in the possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society, a coin of the following description: on one side is a head, and the words "Georgius III. Rex.;" on the other side a shield, on which are quartered the arms of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Virginia—the whole surmounted by a crown, and encircled with the word, "Virginia, 1773."

A similar coin was dug up a few years since, and the following statement was published with the description of it: During the usurpation of Cromwell, the colony of Virginia refused to acknowledge his authority, and declared itself independent. Shortly after, finding that Cromwell threatened to send a fleet and army to reduce Virginia to subjection, and fearing the ability of this feeble State, to withstand this force, she sent in a small ship a messenger to Charles II., then an exile in Breda, Flanders. Charles accepted the invitation to come over and be king of Virginia, and was on the eve of embarking when he was recalled to the throne of England. As soon as he was restored to the crown of England, in gratitude for the loyalty of Virginia, he caused her coat of arms to be quartered with those of England, Scotland, and Ireland, as an independent member of the empire.

The above coin is certainly confirmatory of these facts. Hence the origin of the phrase "Old Dominion," frequently applied to Virginia.

History does not confirm all the statements, though it establishes some, and sufficiently discloses, in the conduct of Virginia during the Protectorate of Cromwell, a cause for the origin of the name Old Dominion, frequently applied to Virginia.