I hit the jackpot today. This post is a bit like the one by @zumbly , but these came today! I will post most in separate threads. The Roman steelyard scale is not quite ancient, it is "old" by US standards. It has two weight scales 0 - 20 and 0 - 100 (pounds I assume). The scale is the one with 4 hooks and it can be hung two ways to give different lever arms => different weight ranges. It is interesting that minimum weight the scale can measure is about 6 pounds, or about the weight of the cast bronze bar. The scale came in the box labeled FRAGILE. They had to mean the box was in fragile condition with the steel weight poking on both ends. The scale is farmyard stout. The neatest item on the pile is a box of Christmas torts! Our dog was interested in the smells from Germany, Italy and Maine.
kool.. i seen something like that for sale and was tempted to purchase, but my knowledge of such items is very limited. congrats!
Very nice! Weights are very common, but the scales are pretty rare. In all my years I have only handled and owned one Roman example.
That steelyard scale is really interesting, and of course I love the picture. I recognise the Neussel collection tags too... three coins from my pile were wins from the same auction.
In the auction picture, I thought I could see a Ramo Secco line(s). In hand I see a line (or something). The "bottom" the bar has to much dirt, corrosion or mold scale to see features. The top was cleaned more, but also has scale that prevents a good look at the bar features. Dimensions are: Length: - 129 mm Width: 75 - 80 mm Thick: 57 mm at thick end and 37 mm at thin end weight: 2533 grams = 2.5 Kg = 5.6 US pounds = 7.5 Roman Pounds or Asses = 2.5 days of pay for a Roman soldier I will post more when I have a chance to take more pics.
I will use this scale as part of my display nest month at the Money Show of the SW: "How Were Roman soldiers paid in 400 BC?" Rome did not issue coins until 300 BC or so. They started paying soldiers about 400 BC with the siege of Veii. Payment was by bronze. The bar shown above and aes rude were how payments were made. They had to use some kind of scale and weight standard. Heavy items were normally weighed with steel yard scales. This is a "modern" scale. It was in use early in the last century and maybe before. This is a Roman scale. It is on order, but not here yet. It is not complete, but has two of the main parts. The scale is in its high weight mode. See how close the scale weight is to the hook. One and a half gallons of water are below the scale range. I flipped the scale over for this pic. The scale has one hook close to the weighing hook for high range and one farther from the hanging hook for low range. This is the low range for the scale. The two jugs weighed 14 pounds, 0 ounces. A Roman soldier was paid 15 (US) pounds of bronze per week. That is 3 asses per day at 324.7 grams per as times 7 days per week = 6,800 g = 15 lbs. I need a strong holder for a week's pay. That will allow me to use the scale in range. I an not sure I have that many bronze pieces. By 210 BC, a week's pay at 21 asses was only 2 denarii.
