Rights Holder: The Portable Antiquities Scheme
CC License:
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Unique ID: IOW-FD8461
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An almost complete Medieval cast copper-alloy cup weight belonging to nested set (c. 1250-c. 1400).
This weight is circular in plan. Its sides, 3.29mm in thickness, flare evenly upwards from the base to a flat rim. The base is slightly convex and the base inside the cup is slightly concave. The inner and outer faces are plain and the rim has been decorated with circular punch marks. However, most have been lost due to corrosion or damage.
The weight has a dark green patina with small areas of corrosion particularly on the rim where a small portion is missing. There are file marks on the base although these are barely visible.
Height: 12.43mm; outer diameter of rim: 29.49mm; outer diameter of base: 21.66mm. Weight: 24.95g. (0.8800 ounces).
It has been suggested that these cup weights date from 12th-14th century and seem to be based on a standard close to the old Roman system (Biggs 1992, 14). These types of weights were used for weighing gold and silver in the form of coin, small objects or as scrap metal or other precious materials (Saunders 2001, 125).
A complete Medieval weight-box for a set of 'nested' weights has been recorded from Shalfleet Parish, Isle of Wight. See Portable Antiquities Scheme find: IOW-D1CE76. However, this weight box did not contain any weights when it was discovered.
According to Biggs (1992, 16) this type of weight was in use from the late 14th century and throughout the medieval to post-medieval period although they were most common in the 17th-19th centuries.
Class: Cup weight
Current location of find: Finder
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Early
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Early
Period to: MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1250
Date to: Circa AD 1400
Quantity: 1
Height: 12.43 mm
Thickness: 3.29 mm
Weight: 24.95 g
Diameter: 29.59 mm
Date(s) of discovery: Thursday 1st March 2012
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Other reference: IOW2012-8-12
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Incomplete
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
Author | Publication Year | Title | Publication Place | Publisher | Pages | Reference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Biggs, N. | 1992 | English Weights: An Illustrated Survey | Powys | White House Publications | 14;16 | ||
Saunders, P. | 2001 | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Medieval Catalogue Part 3 | Salisbury | Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum | 125 |