This thing is really tough to see. It is about 28 mm and about 2.8 mm thick. Real heavy too, but my scale is kaplootie. The reverse clearly reads 36 Shillings, the obverse is trickier, it looks like a profile of Charles II. The most obvious thought is a coin from the 1600s that is valued at 36 shillings would probably be gold. This thing is well used and covered in gunk, but the spots you can see through the gunk are goldish colored. I strongly suspect Brass. Maybe from Scotland where the money was worth far less?
http://www.ukdfd.co.uk/ceejays_site/pages/Coinweight4.htm At the top of this page I see a drawing of a coin weight that resembles my piece. The reverse with thirty six shillings is pretty accurate in design, the obverse seems to be less accurate, but its hard to tell.
Yes it is a coin weight with Johannes V, it is the equivalent of 4 Portuguese Escudos which was a gold coin. In your link the last box, £1.16s 0d Half Port Piece, describes yours and is the best information you will find on these unusual items. I have the Three Pound Twelve weight in near EF condition from 1747 (Joe) Half Port Piece 4 escudo 9dwt 5gr £1 16s 0d (Joe) Half Port Piece 4 escudo 9dwt 5gr £1 16s 0d
Thanks for that. Mine seems to be undated, but I can see how it is Johannes V. Now that I know the letters to look for, I've got some of the right ones to match Portugal. My item has a smaller diameter than the Portuguese 4 escudos, but as a coin weight it doesn't need to be the same size, just the same weight. I know mine is pretty ugly, but I really don't collect things like this (and I collect almost anything). Any ideas what it might be worth or who might be interested in it?
BTW, It is Brass, I know coins shouldn`t be cleaned but it won`t harm yours if the detail could be seen better. I`ve seen them sell for between £10 and £60 in the UK Here is a link to mine http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz294/mickey-startup/038.jpg http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz294/mickey-startup/037.jpg
