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Copyright credit: © Damien Delvigne and Thomas Leblanc, courtesy of the Trustees of the BM
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Copyright credit: © Damien Delvigne and Thomas Leblanc, courtesy of the Trustees of the BM
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Copyright credit: Schillbach 1865
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
North Syrian mint
Denomination
1/8 Mina
Material
Copper alloy (bronze or brass)
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Square
Length
4.20 cm
Width
4.10 cm
Height
1.15 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75.60 | - | Sept. 15, 2017 | Measurement done by L. Willocx | No | No | No |
| 75.60 | - | Aug. 21, 2019 | Measurement done by D. Delvigne et T. Leblanc | No | No | No |
| 75.56 | 1166.0 | - | www.britishmuseum.org | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bull / Cow / Calf | Relief | RIGHT | Head | ||
| Four-rayed star | Relief | ||||
| Frame | Relief |
Wear
Lightly worn
Corrosion
Lightly corroded
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Autoptic examination:
Bronze weight; square shape. Signs of wear and corrosion: little chippings, small strokes and slight corrosion on and around the reliefs. Straight corners and edges. On the obverse, high double frame and depiction of a profile bull's head to the right in high relief. Above the bucranium, letters in relief: ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΝ, and below: ΟΓΔΟΟΝ. On the reverse, thin frame and a globe with four rays in the diagonals in relief. The upper right corner is lightly damaged.
British Museum: Square bronze weight with a bull's head and Greek inscription on one side ("municipal eighth"), and a globe with rays on the other.
Bronze weight; square shape. Signs of wear and corrosion: little chippings, small strokes and slight corrosion on and around the reliefs. Straight corners and edges. On the obverse, high double frame and depiction of a profile bull's head to the right in high relief. Above the bucranium, letters in relief: ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΝ, and below: ΟΓΔΟΟΝ. On the reverse, thin frame and a globe with four rays in the diagonals in relief. The upper right corner is lightly damaged.
British Museum: Square bronze weight with a bull's head and Greek inscription on one side ("municipal eighth"), and a globe with rays on the other.
Autopsy
Yes
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Denomination, Mint |
Fac simile
ΔΗΜΟΣΙΟΝ
ΟΓΔΟΟΝ
Edition
δημόσιον | ὄγδοον
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Dec. 31, 1824
circumstances
From Asia Minor (Walters 1899)
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-333
TO
-100
Comments on Chronology
terminus post quem: the conquest of Alexander the Great
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| British Museum (London) | Dec. 31, 1824 | 1824,0477.1 |
| Knight Collection | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schillbach 1865 | 204–205 | 70 | pl. XIV/70 | None |
| Walters 1899 | 3004 |
VARIA
Additional comment
Phocian? Seleucid? Similar to 1/8 Mina weights from a North Syrian mint.
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