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ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Antoninus Pius, Roman Emperor ; Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor
Mint
Nicaea
Denomination
5 Libras = 5 Litras
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Square
Length
9.10 cm
Width
8.90 cm
Height
- cm
Metrology
Mass (g) Mass (grain) Date of measurement Reference fragmented cleaned reference weight
1595.00 - - Auction CNG 2013, Auction Gorny and Mosch 2014 No No Yes
Iconography
Symbol Technique Direction Position Number Synecdoche
Telesphorus Relief FACING
Cista mystica Relief
Snake Relief
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Auction CNG 2013: Bithynia, Nicaea. temp. Antoninus Pius & Marcus Aurelius Caesar. AD 139-161. PB Five Pound Weight (91×89mm, 1595 g, 12h). Dated RY 5 of Antoninus Pius (AD 141/2). T AI CЄB ANT/ΩNЄINOY ЄTOYC Є CΠI/ A[...], facing figure of Telesphorus flanked by ΠEN monogram(?)–TA / M • AVP/HΛIOY KAI/CAPOC • CЄ/BAC • VIOV • KAI • around, garlanded altar flanked by ΛI–Є. Each edge stamped twice with H NEIKAIE/ΩN ΠΟΛΙC in two lines within a tabula ansata. Intact but with scattered scrapes and scuffs. Attractive beige-brown patina. A very rare and impressive piece.
Auction Gorny and Mosch 2014: Bleigewicht. Mina (1595g). 141 / 142 n. Chr. Mzst. Nicaea (Bithynien). 1595 g. 9,1 × 8,9 cm. Quadratisch. Vs.: TAI CEB ANTΩNEINOΥ ETOΥC E CΠI / A[...] (umlaufend) / ΠEN (in Ligatur) - TA, frontal stehender Telesphorus. Rs.: M AVP / HΛIOΥ KAI / CAPOC CEBAC YIOΥ KAI (umlaufend) / ΛI - E, Girlanden geschmückter Altar. An jeder Schmalseite jeweils zwei Tabulae ansatae mit H NEIKAIE / ΩN ΠOΛIC. Gewicht zu 5 Litren (Pentalitron). Ex CNG 94, 2013, 873. RR! Attraktive beige-braune Patina, minimale Bestoßungen. Fünf römische Litren wiegen 1637,25 g, wenn eine Libra 327,45g hat. Das entspricht fast exakt dem Gewicht einer griechischen Mina. Das Gewicht nennt Antoninus Pius und Marc Aurel als Caesar und datiert ins 5. Regierungsjahr des Kaisers Antoninus Pius.
Autopsy
No
INSCRIPTION
Language Technique Legend type
Greek Relief Authority, Date, Denomination, Other
Greek Stamped / Countermarked Mint
Fac simile
Edition
All around the weight: Ἔτους ε´ ἐπὶ | Α̣ὐ̣τ̣(οκράτορος) Κ̣α̣ί̣(σαρος?) | Τ(ίτου?) Αἰ(λίου?) Σεβ(αστοῦ) Ἀν̣τ|ωνε̣ίνου || καὶ Μ(άρκου) Α̣ὐρη|λίου Καί|σαρος Σε|βασ(τοῦ) υἱοῦ.
In the field: ← Λί(τραι) – εʹ (?). || → Λί(τραι) – εʹ (?).
Eight countermarks: Ἡ Νεικαιέ|ων πόλις.

Weiß 2020: In the field: εἰτα(λικαὶ) || λί(τραι) – εʹ
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Sept. 18, 2013
circumstances
Antiquities trade.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK , ROMAN
Time frame
FROM 141 TO 142
Comments on Chronology
Year 5 of Antoninus Pius.
Weiß 2020: 23.IX.141 – 22.IX.142
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
Name Date of acquisition Inventory number
Antiquities Trade March 10, 2013 None
Bibliography
Reference Page/Column Reference (number) Plate / Figure Comment
Auction CNG 2013c None 873 None None
Auction Gorny & Mosch 2014a 168 594 None None
Weiß 2020 152–154 None None None