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Copyright credit: Ashmolean Museum / Louise Willocx
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Copyright credit: Ashmolean Museum / Louise Willocx
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Copyright credit: Meyer 2001–03
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Copyright credit: Meyer 2001–03
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Moesian mint
Denomination
1/2 Mina
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Disc or similar (ellipse, etc.)
Length
4.60 cm
Width
8.70 cm
Height
1.30 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 251.20 | - | Sept. 3, 2019 | Autopsy Louise Willocx | No | No | Yes |
| 251.20 | - | - | Meyer 2001–03 | No | No | No |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermes | Relief | LEFT | Head | ||
| Caduceus | Relief |
Wear
Lightly worn
Corrosion
Lightly corroded
Handle
Yes
Suspension hole
Yes
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Ashmolean Museum: Lead weight.
Meyer 2001–03: Callatian weight of the autonomous period. Elliptical lead weight, 251.20 gr., 4.59 x 8.77 x 1.2 cm. Obv. Head of Hermes l. Edges folded in. Rev. Caduceus vertical, ΔA to the right and HMI to the left. AN 2004.38. Half-mina. The shape is elliptical, passing gradually into a pierced lobe at the top. There are two parallel cuts across the obverse, another is visible at the right edge of the lobe on the reverse; otherwise the preservation is fairly good. So far there are no exact parallels for this example, but its shape seems to preclude an attribution to Histria or Tomis, whilst the presence of a caduceus as symbol on the reverse and the style of Hermes' bust (recalling weight no. 28 above) point to Callatian provenance.
Autoptic examination: Lead weight, elliptical shape; square and pierced handle. Signs of wear and corrosion: some cuts, big one on the handle on the reverse. The lower edge on the obverse and the upper edge of the handle on the reverse are folded. On the obverse, frame and depiction in relief: Head of Hermes to the left with petasos. On the reverse, depiction of a caduceus in relief. Along the caduceus, on both sides, legend in relief: HMI and ΔΑ.
Meyer 2001–03: Callatian weight of the autonomous period. Elliptical lead weight, 251.20 gr., 4.59 x 8.77 x 1.2 cm. Obv. Head of Hermes l. Edges folded in. Rev. Caduceus vertical, ΔA to the right and HMI to the left. AN 2004.38. Half-mina. The shape is elliptical, passing gradually into a pierced lobe at the top. There are two parallel cuts across the obverse, another is visible at the right edge of the lobe on the reverse; otherwise the preservation is fairly good. So far there are no exact parallels for this example, but its shape seems to preclude an attribution to Histria or Tomis, whilst the presence of a caduceus as symbol on the reverse and the style of Hermes' bust (recalling weight no. 28 above) point to Callatian provenance.
Autoptic examination: Lead weight, elliptical shape; square and pierced handle. Signs of wear and corrosion: some cuts, big one on the handle on the reverse. The lower edge on the obverse and the upper edge of the handle on the reverse are folded. On the obverse, frame and depiction in relief: Head of Hermes to the left with petasos. On the reverse, depiction of a caduceus in relief. Along the caduceus, on both sides, legend in relief: HMI and ΔΑ.
Autopsy
Yes
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Denomination, Mint |
Fac simile
ΗΜΙ
ΔΑ
Edition
Ἡμι(μναῖον) | δα(μόσιον).
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Dec. 31, 1996
circumstances
Meyer and Moreno 2004: In 1996 a private collector of ancient coins received a posted parcel containing 43 metal objects, supposedly lead weights from ancient Istria on the western shore of the Black Sea. These came unsolicited from an antiquities dealer based outside Britain, and given that they would otherwise most likely have been dispersed on the open market, the recipient notified the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and deposited the package at the Department of Antiquities.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-400
TO
-100
Comments on Chronology
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Ashmolean Museum (Oxford) | Dec. 31, 1996 | AN 2004.38 |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meyer 2001–03 | 58, 73 | 27 | fig. 27 | None |
VARIA