Q. Fabius Vibul(anus?), Praefectus Urbi

2 Libras = 2 Litras

Basalt

Carved

Truncated sphere or similar (truncated spheroid, truncated double cone, etc.)

8.30 cm

7.50 cm

5.20 cm

Mass (g)	Mass (grain)	Date of measurement	Reference	fragmented	cleaned	reference weight
518.00	-	-	Berlin Antiquites Collection	No	No	Yes

Symbol	Technique	Direction	Position	Number	Synecdoche

Berlin Antiquities Collection : « Linsenförmiges Gewicht aus schwarzem Stein mit lateinischer Inschrift Q FABII VIBVL PRAEF VRB. »

No

Language	Technique	Legend type
Latin	Incised	Authority

Q(uinti) Fabii Vibul(ani ?) Praef(ecti) Urb(is)

ROMAN

Name	Date of acquisition	Inventory number
Berlin Antiquities Collection	Dec. 31, 1827	Fr. 935

Reference	Page/Column	Reference (number)	Plate / Figure	Comment
Friederichs 1871	210	935	None	None

This object needs to be considered very carefully, as it raises a number of questions. Firstly, is it a weight? Its shape and material are reminiscent of truncated spheres made of dark stone, but the object seems flatter and almost elliptical. What's more, even if it is damaged, its mass is far removed from any usual denomination. Secondly, is it an 'official' artefact? Although its inscription explicitly mentions a City Prefect, it is incised very crudely. Finally, who is the individual indicated? Only one Q. Fabius Vibulanus, a consul from the 5th century BC. Unfortunately, the archaeological context is not known.
It is therefore tempting to classify it as a fake. However, N. Franken classified it as a weight in the inventory of the Berlin Antikensammlung. Franken's expertise in Roman weighing instruments is well established. Lastly, it would appear to be a very old fake, since the object was acquired by the collection in 1827.
It should therefore be kept among the weights, but a more in-depth study of the case is required.