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Source Description
These small weights were used with a scale for weighing light, valuable objects like coins and jewelry. To fight widespread corruption, bronze weights were controlled by the government, with the value engraved directly onto the square. The cross on this bronze weight (one ounce) implies the authority and sanction of God and, therefore, honest weighing.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
1102
label
Flat Weight
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
1102
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Flat Weight
description
These small weights were used with a scale for weighing light, valuable objects like coins and jewelry. To fight widespread corruption, bronze weights were controlled by the government, with the value engraved directly onto the square. The cross on this bronze weight (one ounce) implies the authority and sanction of God and, therefore, honest weighing.
provenance
Maurice Nahman, Cairo, by purchase; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1930, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
5th-6th century (Late Antique)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
weights
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
H: 7/8 in. (2.2 cm)
Source extras
cul
Byzantine
med
bronze inlaid with silver
creator_ids
6640
collection_ids
ROM
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
678f44d7dec8cd0b