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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;rrdenarius, post: 4600711, member: 75525&quot;]Coin weights from Old Coins</p><p>I often see an ancient coin that is new to me. Most of the time, I pass on it because it does not fit my collecting area: Roman Republican coins, cast bronze money from Italy and Roman scale weights. This week four interesting pieces arrived in my mail box. They are new to me. Five lots in Leu Numismatik’s Web Auction 12 were ancient coins that were turned into scale weights. These weights were for checking the weight of gold Solidi or Semissis.</p><p>I could use some help with identifying the coins that were converted to coins. Some of the coins are missing or damaged. An exact ID to RIC # is not needed, but I would like to determine the emperors. My best guesses will be posted below.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1139386[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1139387[/ATTACH]</p><p>Denomination – several names are used for the sizes of these weights. They are not normally described as fractions of a Roman ounce (VNCIA), but that is my reference point.</p><p>*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1/6 VNCIA, 1 Solidus, 1 Nomisma, 4 Scripula, 24 Siliquae</p><p>**&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1/12 VNCIA, 1 Semissis, 1/2 Nomisma, 2 Scripula, 12 Siliquae</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>top right - *; 4.34 grams; 13.3 x 13.9 mm</p><p>Circa 5th-7th centuries. Square Byzantine coin weight for a solidus made from a 4th century follis dating to the 360s-370s, perhaps of Jovian or Valentinian I.</p><p>Obv. - Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to right.</p><p>Rev. - VOT V / MVLT / X within wreath.</p><p><br /></p><p>top left - *; 4.28 grams; 21 mm dia</p><p>Circa 5th-7th centuries. Round Byzantine coin weight for a solidus made from a 4th century follis that was serrated. Thick earthen deposits, otherwise, very fine.</p><p>Obv - Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed imperial bust to right, [...]NVS P F AVG. I wonder if the marks on the emperor&#039;s face have meaning. </p><p>Rev - REPARATIO [REI PVB] / SM... Emperor standing facing, holding Victory on globe in his left hand and raising kneeling female figure wearing turreted crown with his right. </p><p><br /></p><p>bottom right - **; 2.19 grams; 13.5 x 14.4 mm</p><p>Circa 5th-7th centuries. Square Byzantine coin weight for a Semissis made from a Constantinian follis. Intended to serve as a weight for a semissis, but carries the denomination mark &#039;N&#039; for Nomisma on the obverse!</p><p>Obv - Laureate imperial head to right; N engraved over the head.</p><p>Rev - Campgate with no doors and two turrets; above, star. [P]ROVI[DEN-TIAE AVGG]; in ex – star???</p><p><br /></p><p>bottom left - **; 2.43 grams; 15.0 x 15.6 mm</p><p>Circa 5th-7th centuries. Square Byzantine coin weight for a Semissis made from a Constans centenionalis.</p><p>Obv - Diademed, draped and cuirassed bust of Constans left, holding globe; [D N CONSTA-NS P F AVG]. Note, this is just a guess. It looks like there is some silvering on the coin.</p><p>Rev - Soldier advancing right, head to left, holding inverted spear in his left hand and leading barbarian with his right from hut under tree; in field above, Γ. [FEL TEMP REPA-RATIO]; [CONSIA*] all of the examples I found have the same letters in ex.</p><p>A couple of attempts to improve the obv pic.</p><p>[ATTACH]1139390[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]1139391[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>How do these weights work? I checked the weights vs several coins in my collection and found both Semissis weights balanced well with a Byzantine coin I bought recently.&nbsp; </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1139389[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1139377[/ATTACH] </p><p>This is my best impression of the scale on the back of a Claudius Quadrans. </p><p>[ATTACH=full]1139378[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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