Friday, December 15, 2017

Roman Scale and Weight with Inscribed Face

My first ancient scale arrived this week! The scale is only the beam that formed the backbone of a steel yard scale. It is missing hooks and or pans that would have attached the scale to a solid object and held the item(s) being weighed. A scale weight with markings was part of the lot. The picture on one large side of the weight looks like a late Roman bronze coin portrait.
The weight and beam may have been from different scales, but both look (and were sold as) ancient. I have an old US steel-yard scale. Pictures of both and some of my weights are shown below.

The vendor's description; Timeline Auctions, London:
ROMAN STEELYARD AND WEIGHT GROUP; 1st-2nd century AD

A mixed group comprising: a bronze steelyard with incised gradations, pierced bulb, knop finial, two loops with chains; a tongue-shaped lead weight with stamped profile bust to one face, graffito inscription 'ERLILAFAV' to one face, '[...]CID[...]' to the other, loop above. 380 grams total, 73-22cm (3 - 8 5/8"). [2]

Fine condition.

Provenance - From a private collection; formed 1965-1975.

Shown above are two scales:
·         US steel-yard scale – 22” overall length; weight = 985 grams; beam weight = 800 grams
o   Low range scale = 6 to 28 lbs
§  Center to scale weight = 40 mm
§  Center to end of beam on weighing side = 470 mm
§  Scale marked in 2 lb increments 37.7 mm apart
§  6 lb mark is 54 mm from center
o   High range scale = 30 to 100 lbs
§  Center to scale weight = 10 mm
§  Center to end of beam on weighing side = 480 mm
§  Scale marked in 10 lb increments 53.5 mm apart
§  10 lb mark is 72 mm from center
·         Roman steel-yard scale – 8” overall length; weight = 307 grams; beam weight = 70 grams
o   Low range scale = ? to ?
§  Center to scale weight = 58.2 mm
§  Center to end of beam on weighing side = 142 mm
§  Scale marked in ? increments ___ mm apart
o   High range scale = ? to ?
§  Center to scale weight = 44.7 mm
§  Center to end of beam on weighing side = 142 mm
§  Scale marked in ? increments ___ mm apart

o   There are 3 sets of marks on the weighing end of the beam. My measurements averaged 18.4 mm apart, but they varied from 17.4 to 20 mm apart.