An interesting barrel weight collection arrived this week. I bought the lot because it has a one Roman pound weight with AA. I have a few 1 pound weights, but this one is probably the oldest. From left to right, top to bottom: As or Libra, 12 ounce, 327.7 grams vs a standard of 327.45 Semis, 6 ounce, 155.4 grams = 311 equivalent As Semis, 6 ounce, 163 grams - 326 equivalent As Quadrans, 3 ounce, 82.6 = 330 equivalent As Sextans, 2 ounce, 46.9 = 281 equivalent As Uncia, 1 ounce, 25.1 = 301 equivalent As Uncia, 1 ounce, 26.5 = 318 equivalent As Semiuncia, ½ ounce, 12.5 = 300 equivalent As Sicilius, ¼ ounce, 6.6 = 317 equivalent As ?, 1/8 ounce, 3.3 = 317 equivalent As The AA As is the piece I wanted most. The second piece I "really" wanted is the VN I or one uncia weight. How many items are needed to justify buying a lot. In this case, one. BALANCES AND WEIGHTS Late antique Byzantine. According to Bendall, two of the weights are Roman and 8 of the weights are late Roman to early Byzantine. The earlier weights indicate denominations in VNCIA (ounces). The later weights use Greek letters and monograms. ૪ = OY in monogram, OY is an abbreviation for ΟΥΝΓΓΙΑ = UNCIA or ounce. When paired with ૪ the weight denominations are: ૪A = 1 ounce ૪B = 2 ounces ૪ Γ = 3 ounces ૪C = 6 ounces, I do not have the symbol to type here. Lot of 10 bronze barrel weights, 8 inlaid with silver, denominations: 1/8th uncia (ounce) to one Libra (Roman pound). Dimensions are Height = 7 to 33 mm. Diameter = 9 to 43 mm. Most have intact silver Since the early 1980s in German private collection. Some comparison pictures of scale weights of different time periods and next to cast coins of the same denomination. semis on the left and sextans on right. a semis weight with VI from a previous purchase, I think it is the oldest weight One As six ways. All of the scale weights are near a standard As of 327 grams. The cast coin is near 200 grams and the struck one is about 35 grams.
Wow, those are amazing! I think you did good with the lot, even if it was just for that one. Very fascinating! Thanks for sharing!
You have a wonderful collection. One day I will add an As to my collection. Do you have any other pics to share?
It seems you have a nice collection Gene and are well versed in weights and scales which I know absolutely nothing about so I enjoy reading your threads when you show them. I’ve heard of many collectors buying lots for just one or two items and then selling off the remainder - sometimes so successfully that the items they wanted turned out to be free! Keep on hunting my friend. -d
