ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mentor, agoranomos (Berytos)
Mint
Berytos
Denomination
1 Mina
Material
Lead
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Square
Length
7.70 cm
Width
9.60 cm
Height
1.20 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 631.95 | - | - | Auction CNG 2020 | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin | Relief | UP | |||
| Trident | Relief | UP | |||
| Egg and dart pattern | Relief | ||||
| Lattice pattern | Relief |
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
Yes
Suspension hole
Yes
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Sawaya 2023: Square lead cast weight with circular suspension loop. Dimensions: 77 × 96 (including the loop) × 12 mm. Mass: 631.95 g. Preservation: very fine. Cavities at the upper right part of the frame with cuts at the lower left angle and on the upper part of the loop. CNG Electronic Auction 476, no. 291; Pondera #13568 (visited April 10, 2023). Denomination: one mina. Obverse: dolphin entwined round vertical trident (in center), L–A | Λ–Ρ | Μ–ΕΝ | ΤΟ–ΡΟΣ (in field), ‘Year 131, of Mentôr’ or, more probably, ‘Mentôr (being agoranomos)’, all within a square frame surrounded by a square raised border with egg-and-dart pattern. Reverse: lattice pattern. Agoranomos: Mentôr. Findspot: unknown. Acquisition: Wadih Hadad Collection (Beirut) WHW 1. Purchased from the S. Moussaieff Collection during the CNG Electronic Auction 476, no. 291, September 9, 2020. Photographic credits: Classical Numismatic Group (CNG).
Auction CNG 2020: PHOENICIA, Berytus. Late Hellenistic Period. Cast PB Steelyard Weight (77×96×12mm, 631.95 g, 12h). Dated issue. Dated year [...]41. Dolphin-entwined trident, traces of Greek letters signifying date and magistrate; all within quadrate frame / Blank. Cf. Rochesnard II, p. 62; E&E, Poids –; Hendin, Ancient –. Gray and brown patina, scuffs and scrapes, slightly bent. Near VF. Overall height and weight include suspension loop originally cast into weight. From the S.M. Collection.
Auction CNG 2020: PHOENICIA, Berytus. Late Hellenistic Period. Cast PB Steelyard Weight (77×96×12mm, 631.95 g, 12h). Dated issue. Dated year [...]41. Dolphin-entwined trident, traces of Greek letters signifying date and magistrate; all within quadrate frame / Blank. Cf. Rochesnard II, p. 62; E&E, Poids –; Hendin, Ancient –. Gray and brown patina, scuffs and scrapes, slightly bent. Near VF. Overall height and weight include suspension loop originally cast into weight. From the S.M. Collection.
Autopsy
No
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | Relief | Authority, Date, Unidentified |
Fac simile
L Α
Α .
Μ ΕΝ
ΤΟ ΡΟΣ
Edition
(Ἔτους) αʹ | ἀγ̣[ο(ρανόμου)] | Μ–έν|το–ρος.
App. crit. 1–2: (Ἔτους) αʹ | ἀγ̣[ο(ρανόμου)] Julien Aliquot || (Ἔτους) α|‹λ›–[ρ]´?
App. crit. 1–2: (Ἔτους) αʹ | ἀγ̣[ο(ρανόμου)] Julien Aliquot || (Ἔτους) α|‹λ›–[ρ]´?
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Sept. 9, 2020
circumstances
Antiquities trade.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
GREEK
Time frame
FROM
-81
TO
-80
Comments on Chronology
IGLS VIII/1: Year 1 of Berytos = 81/80 BCE.
or SE [1]‹3›1? = 182/181 BCE?
or SE [1]‹3›1? = 182/181 BCE?
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Hadad Collection | Sept. 9, 2020 | WHW 1 |
| Moussaieff Collection | None | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auction CNG 2020d | None | 291 | None | None |
| IGLS VIII/1 | None | None | None | None |
| Sawaya 2023 | 77–78, 107 | 2 | fig. 2 | None |
VARIA