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Copyright credit: Auction Leu 2022
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Copyright credit: Auction Leu 2022
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Copyright credit: Auction Leu 2022
ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE WEIGHT
Authority
Mint
Phoenician mint
Denomination
3? Sheqels
Material
Copper alloy (bronze or brass)
Manufacture
Cast
Shape
Truncated pyramid
Length
1.60 cm
Width
1.10 cm
Height
2.00 cm
Metrology
| Mass (g) | Mass (grain) | Date of measurement | Reference | fragmented | cleaned | reference weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.17 | - | - | Auction Leu 2022 | No | No | Yes |
Iconography
| Symbol | Technique | Direction | Position | Number | Synecdoche |
|---|
Wear
Corrosion
Handle
No
Suspension hole
No
Recarved mould
No
Recarved weight
No
Intentionally destroyed
No
Archaeological description
Auction Leu 2022: Levantine Region, 4th-1st centuries BC. Weight of 3 Shekels (Bronze, 11x16x20 mm, 30.17 g). 𐤔𐡒𐤋𐤍 ('šqln' in Aramaic). Rev. Blank. Cf. J. Elayi and A.G. Elayi: Recherches sur les poids phéniciens. Paris, 1997, no. 21 ff. (rectangular Phoenician weights) & pl. XXXIX, no. 7 (rectangular weight in the Israel Museum). A very rare and intriguing piece. Somewhat corroded, otherwise, fair.
Autopsy
No
INSCRIPTION
| Language | Technique | Legend type |
|---|---|---|
| Aramaic | Incised | Denomination |
Fac simile
{Phoenician alphabet: ŠQLN}
Edition
šqln
Monogram
ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONTEXT
Findspot (region)
Findspot (site)
context
CIRCUMSTANCES OF ACQUISITION
Region
City
Date of first acquisition
Dec. 5, 2022
circumstances
Antiquities trade.
DATING OF THE WEIGHT
Curatorial Section
NEAR EASTERN
Time frame
FROM
-400
TO
-100
Comments on Chronology
Auction Leu 2022: The inscription on the obverse, which means 'shekels', and the rectangular shape of the weight firmly place it in the Eastern Levant, most likely Judaea or Phoenicia. The weight of 30 grams roughly corresponds to that of three shekels (at 11 grams each).
COLLECTION HISTORY
Collection
| Name | Date of acquisition | Inventory number |
|---|---|---|
| Antiquities Trade | Dec. 5, 2022 | None |
Bibliography
| Reference | Page/Column | Reference (number) | Plate / Figure | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auction Leu 2022d | None | 3579 | None | None |
VARIA