Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
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Unique ID: YORYM-B66DD4
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete lead trade weight of medieval to post-medieval date. The weight is shield shaped and is decorated on the upper surface with a worn and indistinct design, possibly that of a fleur-de-lis. A separate sub-rectangular strip of lead has been attached to the reverse of the weight and two clumps of iron are also present.
The metal is a mid brown colour and is worn. The weight is 50.2mm long, 45.5mm wide, 15.4mm thick and weighs 233g.
It is common to encounter versions of royal insignia on shield shaped lead weights and Biggs & Withers (1992, p.42) state that the crowned-lis device is commonly found in the North of England. The dating of such examples is somewhat uncertain though Biggs & Withers suggest they are likely to have occurred in the period following the conversion of the averdepois pound from a sub-division into 15 ounces to a binary scale of 16 ounces. It is likely that these weights represent a desire to standardize the trade weight system.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1390
Date to: Circa AD 1800
Quantity: 1
Length: 50.2 mm
Width: 45.5 mm
Thickness: 15.4 mm
Weight: 233 g
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4 Figure: SE5553
Four figure Latitude: 53.97015555
Four figure longitude: -1.16304373
1:25K map: SE5553
1:10K map: SE55SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.