Roman bronze stamp - MCP
How often do you run across an item in an auction that "has your name on it"? A recent Timeline Auctions had an interesting lot - Roman Mason's Plumb Bob and Tool Collection A collection of five bronze implements comprising: three mason's plumb bobs or line weights (seller's words); a pair of dividers; a punch stamp with 'MCP'. 56 grams total, 2.1-11.4cm (the seller must have added the item lengths to get to 11.4 cm or 114 mm)!
The 3 letters in the stamp are the first ones in my last name - McPherson! The punch and plumb bobs are small, the total weight is 56 grams. The weights are more like charms for a neclace or braclet than plumb bobs. They could have been for coin scales which are small. Provenance - Ex North London gentleman; formerly in an important European private collection formed between 1980 and 2000. Timeline Auction, 9/2/2020; LOT 0849
5.4 grams; 2.5 mm dia X 15.5 mm long; has 5 mm hanging loop
3.3 grams; 2.5 mm dia X 14.5 mm long
5.0 grams; 3.4 mm dia X 8.2 mm long
The stamp is more interesting. My guess is the letters are a Roman name and could have been used to mark coins or other metal items. I have not seen coins with this letter combination. You can read a bit more about Roman names here: https://alison-morton.com/2014/08/18/whats-in-a-roman-name/
20.4 grams; 18.1 mm X 8.2 mm X 2.8 mm
The divider is:
20 grams and has 42.9 mm & 42.8 mm arms
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