I picked up a coin weight made from a LRB (late Roman bronze coin). The seller said: circa 5th-7th centuries, a square coin weight made from a follis of Constantine I (307/310-337). CONS[TAN]-TIN[VS AVG] Laureate head of Constantine I to right. Rev. Genius standing left, holding patera and cornucopia. 4.18 Grams 17.7 x 18.1 x 1.9 mm If you can read the letters on the weight and get the reported letters, you have better eyes or imagination than me. My previous pocket scale bit the dust to I visited the A shop and had a new one in a day for under $20.
I have this one modified as a solidus weight Maximianus A.D. 308- 309 24mm 4.3g GAL MAXIMIANVS P F AVG; laureate head right. VIRTVTI E-XERCITVS; Mars advancing, naked but for flowing chlamys; right holding spear, left trophy over shoulder; in left field B In ex. [MKV] RIC VI Cyzicus 47 and this Constantine I coin with CONSTANTINIANA DAFNE reverse from Constantinople. It was cut down to weigh 1.5 grams (12mm) for use as a tremissis weight. here are some more modified coins used as solidus weights Maxentius A.D. 309- 312 20mm 4.3g IMP C MAXENTIVS P F AVG; laureate head right. AETERNITAS AVG N; Castor and Pollux standing facing each other, each leaning on sceptre with outer left arm and holding bridled horse. In ex. MOSTS RIC VI Ostia 35 Decentius A.D. 350-3 19mm 4.4g D N DECENTIVS NOB CAES; bare-headed & cuirassed bust right. SALVS DD NN AVG ET CAES; large Chi-Rho flanked by A-W; S/✶ across fields. In ex. [????] RIC VIII Lyons 171, 173, 175
Do we know why these are given such a standardized style (4 cuts dividing the obverse into eight segments, with "gear shaped" serrations around the perimeter)? I looked in Hendin's Ancient Scale Weights quickly (which shows a slightly different modification, also shown in his GBC books), but didn't really find an explanation for why or what purpose. Here's my One Theodosius weight... I like how the cuts were oriented so as to preserve all the major facial features, especially by fitting the eye and nose into one "wedge."
I think that some of the people that modified these coins had some artistic talent, perhaps some kind of craftsman, and this was a way for them to show off their work. They took pride in what they did. Other modified coins demonstrate a complete lack of skill or care. Function over form. this one is getting a bit more crude Galeria Valeria A.D. 309-310 20mm 4.2g GAL VALERIA AVG; Diademed and draped bust right. VENERI VICTRICI; Venus standing facing, head left, right holding up apple, left raising drapery over left shoulder; star in left field, E in right. In ex. •SM•TS• RIC VI Thessalonica 33 These next two are bad; but they served their purpose with no aesthetic concern. 21mm 4.3g Unidentified Late Roman bronze 19x20mm 4.4g circa A.D. 385 GLORIA ROMANORVM emperor reverse from Constantinople These were also used by individual shops or stalls. I imagine the nicer establishments had the fancier weights; perhaps modified by a professional for a fee. The cruder ones may have been used in the alley shop, maybe carved up by the owner. The reason you find so many of these weights is that people "nibbled away" (clipped or shaved) at the solidus, so they had to be weighed. 'Emperor Julian Augustus to Mamertinus, Praetorian Prefect. The purchase and sale of solidi are impeded if the solidi are clipped or diminished in size, or nibbled away, to use the proper term for such avarice, since some persons refuse to accept such solidi on the ground that they are light and inadequate. Therefore, it is Our pleasure to establish in each municipality an official called by the Greek word zygostates (lit. weigher), who by reason of his trustworthiness and vigilance will neither deceive nor be deceived, so that in accordance with his judgment and reliabilty he may settle any dispute that may arise between the seller and the buyer with respect to solidi. - Given on the ninth day before the kalends of May at Salona in the year of the fourth consulship of Julian Augustus and the consulship of Sallustius [= April 23, 363].' (Cod. Theod. XII.7,2).
Nice weights. I have seen plenty of shapes. Some crude, some that pick something (someone) to feature. Victor, can you tell if the base coin is really a Constantine I? The letters in the upper left corner of the obverse do not match a coin I see on acsearch. I have several others. I picked up a Constantine X Ducas 1059.1067 histamenon to sit on the other side of a scale display.
I think it is Maximinus II as I can make out quite a bit of the obverse legend and the bust looks more like him. IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG something like the coin below-- Maximinus II A.D. 310- 311 23mm 6.7g IMP C GAL VAL MAXIMINVS P F AVG; laureate head. GENIO AVGVSTI CMH; Genius standing left, modius on head, naked but for chlamys over left shoulder, right holding patera, left cornucopiae. In ex. SMNΓ RIC VI Nicomedia 66c
