I just bought a weight that was advertised as Roman. I think that is a good guess, but it looks like it could be from a lot of places. I liked the marks on the piece. At first I thought the marks might lead me to a find spot. Now my best guess is how it was labeled at a collector's fair in Utrecht the Netherlands. The seller's pics and description: Ancient Roman Lead balance weight weights Origin:Europe Condition: Good Condition, See Photo Material - lead: Date: 2nd/4th century AD. Origin: Western Europe Length. 40 mm to 55 mm. In good condition (see photos) The provider guarantees that this item was obtained in a legal manner. Purchased at the collector's fair Utrecht 1999. I think the weight markings read: GEWICHE BALANS ROMEINS Using google translate Dutch to English: WEIGHT BALANCE ROMAN Can anyone read anything different on the weight? It is odd that the seller called these pieces balance weights, but did not give weights. This is the second lot of lead that I bought that cost 5 or more times to ship as the hammer plus vig.
I have no idea, which is why I'm asking. I'm just curious as to what it is, but I'm also curious as to why someone would pay so much for something that seems, at least to me, to have very little value. I collect old apothecary weights, which actually have very little secondary or resell value, but they're interesting historically, which might have something to do with this collecting. And also I pay very little for them. BTW, LM , I saw some tokens you might be interested in. You may have already seen them. One is called the White Negress and the other is an owl and a pussycat. Let me know and I'll PM you the links.
Yes, I thought I did, but to pay so much over value just for historical interest is certainly not something I would ever do. In a way I'm a cheapskate. I just spent almost $ 500.00 on a P.A. system for my 10 yr old twin grandsons and my 8 yr old granddaughter to play with, but I agonize over every extra dollar for a coin. I gotta keep my priorities straight, and my grandkids are them.
If you could make a closer picture of the sellers writing I could translate better. Atleast it says on the label "weight balance/scale Roman". But I can not read what's written next to it. Maybe a zoomed in picture can help. Also I see something like "blz 250" written. Not sure if it says blz but blz means "page" in Dutch. So something like page 250.
I do not have the weight yet. If there is more to see, will post better pics when it arrives. Thanks for your translation help. I can run words (letter combinations) through a translation package, but I am sometimes confused with languages with subtle differences. I bought this piece because I was hoping to find a link to a dig site. I collect scales, see my top 10 this year, and none of my pieces go further back than from the collection of _____, or bought at _____ auction.
@rrdenarius, interesting looking weights and agree that the markings look interesting. I have nothing to add to the description you provided. You might enjoy browsing this site: Heybridge: A Late Iron Age and Roman Settlement, Excavations at Elms Farm 1993-5. There is a long chapter on the Roman weights found at the site with additional references. This figure in particular looks a bit like your weights: weights with "iron suspension loops, possibly for use with a steelyard" balance. Here's another picture, at this site, that looks a bit like your weights (bicononical):
Yeah, those are Steelyard balance/scale weights, with the traces of the iron suspension hooks/loops remaining. Unless you can get a good idea of the weight system they were used for it would be hard to accurately date them or determine geographic origins, as steelyards are still used today in some places and it stands to reason that most steelyard weights date from after the Roman era. You should always be cautious when buying artifacts advertised as "Roman" (or from other noteworthy civilizations of Antiquity) because much of the time there is no solid way to actually prove the items are indeed "Roman" vs. something more generic and recent, and the dealers are all acutely aware that they can get more money for so-called "Roman" items as opposed to ho-hum medieval items lacking the same awe inspiring historical backdrop. They seem pretty common generally speaking, I have to sort through them when searching for Greek/Roman lead sling bullets as sometimes they get classified incorrectly as bullets or vice versa, but I know that I've seen examples for sale with rather specific and reliable provenance so if these pieces don't satisfy your desire for concrete provenance be assured that others will show up if you keep looking around.
I know absolutely nothing about Roman weights, but I can translate your Dutch label. It says "Gewicht balans romeins", which simply means "Roman scale weight".
I buy stuff like this all time just for the fun of it. There’s an adventure in figuring out what it is and learning about that subject, even if it turns out the piece was (usually optimistically) mislabeled. I don’t know a thing about weights, Roman or otherwise, but look forward to hearing more about what he’s got there.
Interesting web sites @Sulla80 ! I have read quite a bit on the subject of scales and scale weights. I am still in a learning phase. It is interesting to me that I see many two pan scales on Roman coins, and no steelyard types. From what I have read, lots of steelyards were found at Pompeii.
I don’t have a weight like yours, but looking at the drawing you posted the simpler one on the far left looks not too different. No clue about dating them, though. I have a piece that I originally thought was some sort of votive amulet, but which @Ken Dorney was kind enough to identify as a steelyard weight in the shape of Mars. It is still crude compared to many found at Pompeii. I would still love to acquire some other examples, including a more utilitarian one like yours.
I enjoyed your posts on your top ten list and the amazing Roscia 3 with scale control mark which, being in a perpetual learning mode, prompted me to explore Roman scales and surveying equipment (e.g, groma, dioptra) that might look scale-like. Your OP on this thread also appealed to my general interest in provenance, and the wish that the markings with some detective work might reveal the archeologist, an organization, the site, or the time period in which it was unearthed. On images on coins, I wonder if the steelyard was too utilitarian and imprecise to associate with coins where weight standards would have to meet or at least claim a high level of precision. Claudius I AE Quadrans. Rome Mint 42 AD. 3.3g 16mm Obv: TI CLAVDIVS CAESAR AVG, right hand holding scales, PNR below Rev: PON M TR P IMP COS DES IT around S C P.S. PNR? thought to be related to a monetary reform "pondus nummorum restitutum" = "weight of coins restored" - which is interesting to see with the scale.
The weights arrived today. Not bad for a box that shipped to Texas after Christmas from the Netherlands. The letters could be BLZ. The number below could be 200, 2.00 or something else. I can not read the letters in the lower right corner of the tag - maybe: WO 8C weight = 135 grams; about 5 uncia / ounces if Roman dimensions: 29 mm dia X 36 mm tall The weight had a steel hanger that rusted and broke off. Weight #2 is 209 grams. Dimensions = 37 mm dia X 21 mm tall (Pb part). The steel hanger rusted, but did not fall off. I can guess there was a loop on top and something below to hold the weight on the hanger. The hanger is 55 mm tall. I have seen lots of lead pieces like these. Most have the steel hanger missing.
