“What about the coins with the centurion?” asked Darwin, referring to coins Emelio had emptied from a pouch in the Box.

​

Emelio removed a separate envelope from the Box and slid out the coins. “These were with the letter from Mason,” he said, handing the coins to Darwin, “and I found these in the Box.” He pointed to a leather pouch.

​

Emelio retrieved a jeweler’s loupe and compared the coins. “I’m not an expert, but I’d say the same die struck these,” he said.

​

“Look at this,” said Darwin, holding out his iPhone.

​

“Is that the coin the guy showed you in the London British Telecom tunnel?”

​

“Yeah. It has the same marks.” Darwin zoomed in on the photo.

​

Darwin borrowed the loupe and examined Emelio’s coins. One side was stamped with the profile of a helmeted centurion. The reverse side was a bird with its wings spread. Lines connected five tiny starbursts—one in the tail, one in each wing, and two in the head and beak.

​

“What’s the symbol on the back?” asked Darwin.

​

“As best I can tell, it’s the constellation of Aquila in the northern sky between Aquarius, Sagittarius, and Hercules. The aquila, or eagle, was the most powerful icon of the Roman military. Each legion carried it mounted on a staff and would go to extraordinary measures to protect it,” said Emelio.

​

“What were the coins for?”

​

“The scroll isn’t definitive, but the coins seem to be tokens exchanged to gain entry into a tube. The scroll also mentions a pass phrase punishable by death if forgotten,” said Emelio.

​

“Brutal. Did you show these to any collectors?” he said.

​

“Sure. I always carried one when I traveled. Not one of them had ever seen the type before. Most suspected it was some kind of forgery. Ancient and superb, but still fake.”