Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
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Unique ID: YORYM-219AE5
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete lead trade weight of medieval to post-medieval date. The weight is shield shaped with a raised central panel featuring a crowned fleur-de-lis design on the upper surface. The reverse is flat and undecorated though a deep transverse gouge is present.
The metal has a light white patina and is worn. The weight is 55.7mm long, 38.5mm wide, 15.9mm thick and weighs 222g. With a mass of 222g (7.83 oz imperial) this was probably intended to be an 8oz weight in the avoirdupois system with 16oz in the pound ("correct" mass 226.8g).
Lead weights have been used in trade since the Roman period and were used for weighing quantities of coin as well as goods. Shield-shaped weights are a distinctive group of trade weights which are used from c.AD 1380 and continue into the 15th century. Biggs & Withers (2000, p.34) discuss the difficulties in dating shield weights as links between documentary evidence and artefactual evidence are difficult to establish. Their longevity coupled with various qualities of workmanship and numerous designs employed over a long period of time also make dating difficult. It is likely however that some belong to the period following the conversion of the trade pound under the averdepois system and as such it is likely that these weights represent a desire to standardize the trade weight system.
It is common to encounter versions of royal insignia on shield shaped lead weights and Biggs & Withers (1992, p.42) state that the fleur-de-lis device is commonly found in the North of England.
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1380
Date to: Circa AD 1600
Quantity: 1
Length: 55.7 mm
Width: 38.5 mm
Thickness: 15.9 mm
Weight: 222 g
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Other reference: YMT : E04740
4 Figure: SE6555
Four figure Latitude: 53.9869702
Four figure longitude: -1.01019653
1:25K map: SE6555
1:10K map: SE65NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.