FORVM`s Classical Numismatics Discussion Board

Antiquities Discussion Forums => Other Metal Antiquities => Topic started by: Diederik on July 17, 2010, 12:25:21 pm

Title: Weights or just 'thingies'?
Post by: Diederik on July 17, 2010, 12:25:21 pm
It's been a couple of years since I first posed the question about a series of bronze objects I received in a large lot of Greek coins from Calabria and Tarente.
Recently I got another one from the South of France, with the description that it should be a weight.
I now have the following collection
nr 1: 57.55 grammes
nr 2: 29.60 grammes
nr 3: 11.65 grammes
nr 4:  8       grammes
nr 5:  8.3    grammes

1 could be a biunx
2 could be an uncia
but... the rest..? Would they fit in any Greek system?

Any ideas welcome.

Frans
Title: Re: Weights or just 'thingies'?
Post by: Andrew McCabe on July 17, 2010, 12:33:18 pm
nr 1: 57.55 grammes
nr 2: 29.60 grammes
nr 3: 11.65 grammes
nr 4:  8       grammes
nr 5:  8.3    grammes

1 could be a biunx
2 could be an uncia
but... the rest..? Would they fit in any Greek system?

They are odd for the Roman weight system. Though close to a biunx and uncia, it would be unusual for weights to be heavier than the 27.2 grams ounce-weight. No clue. Very interesting set.
Title: Re: Weights or just 'thingies'?
Post by: v-drome on July 10, 2012, 07:20:12 pm
One theory I have heard is that these could be "feet" which were stuck into clay pots around the bottom to help them stand up. (although 1,2 and 3 are much larger than anything I have seen like this before).