Rights Holder: York Museums Trust
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: YORYM-E13AE1
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
A complete lead trade weight of medieval to post-medieval date, c.AD 1380 - 1600. The weight is shield shaped with a moulded relief design of three lions rampant right on the upper surface. The reverse is flat and undecorated. An ovate perforation is present through the centre of the upper straight edge.
The metal has a mid-brown/white patina and is worn. The weight is 53.5mm long, 45.2mm wide, 14.8mm thick and weighs 234g. With a mass of 125g (8.2 oz imperial) this was probably intended to be a 8oz weight in the avoirdupois system with 16oz in the pound.
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.
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: 53.5 mm
Width: 45.2 mm
Thickness: 14.8 mm
Weight: 234 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference: YMT : E05051
4 Figure: SE6955
Four figure Latitude: 53.98645252
Four figure longitude: -0.9492049
1:25K map: SE6955
1:10K map: SE65NE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
No references cited so far.