http://www.archaeology.org/issues/240-1701/features/5123-sweden-gotland-viking-wealth A really informative read. An excerpt Of course I have this, which always leads me to articles such as that above. Viking Trading Weight ANGLO-SAXON, Anglo-Viking (Danish East Anglia). Late 9th century (870-899CE). PB lead 1.33 Ore = 35.85g 21mm. Circular lead weight. Obverse inset with Series K, type 32a sceat. Circa 720-740. Wolf headed coiled serpent obverse. Mint in East Kent Cf. G. Williams, Anglo-Saxon and Viking Coin Weights, in BNJ 69 (1999), no. 5 (for a similar lead weight with inset Porcupine-type sceat). For inset: Abramson 38.40.10 SCBI 63 (BM), 490 SCBC 803C-D. Bordered by incuse triangles containing one raised dot. Much as made.
Very interesting - I was reading about the Cuerdale Hoard ... https://iconology.hypotheses.org/1409 Most notable is the large number of dated Islamic Dirhams that suggest a close burial date and of course getting alot of attention is the oldest and sole Bzyantine coin in the hoard, variously described as a Hyperpyron and a Miliarisae but really its a Hexagram. Here is my personal one of the type. Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine AR Hexagram 22.0 mm x 6.28 g Constantinople mint. 610-640 AD Obv. dd NN HERAKLIUS et hERA CONST Heraclius and Heraclius Constantine seated facing on double throne Rev. Large DEUS ADIUTA ROMANIS Cross potent above three steps (God Help the Romans) ref# S 798 and the one from the hoard.
The article about finding Byzantine solidi in 7th century Chinese tombs (above the article you reference) looks interesting also. Sounds like a coin collector to me. The article you reference mentions the conversion rate (into adornment) of certain coins (5% general vs 30% for Byzantine coins.) Pretty interesting for a variety of reasons. Not the least of which is the "why" The coin in my weight precedes the creation of the weight by at least a century (probably longer) It was probably chosen because of the imagery. Although the coin had seen some circulation over that 100-150 yrs, it looks like it was rather well preserved. Most coins used in viking weights were pennies contemporary to the creation of the weight, not well preserved, 150 year old coins. I imagine it was the imagery (it's an uncommon type of sceat with that iconic whorl 'dragon') that kept it from the melting pot. I like to think it was an heirloom coin, kept for it's symbolism of a foreign land, and eventually turned into a viking traders symbol of "street cred". The creator of the weight had many coins to choose from, yet chose this type of sceat. The creator also had two sides to choose from and chose to place the spiral wolf headed serpent face up and the side with christian symbolism, face down....forever. As I said, these articles are interesting and help me get closer to answering the "why" Here is a picture of a reference coin. Good info. Thx
The article makes me wish I had gone to college for archaeology. Your weight makes me wish I could afford more things for my collection. I'm jealous, it is really cool.
