Rights Holder: Oxfordshire County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
STEELYARD WEIGHT
Unique ID: BERK-6DA102
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete cast copper-alloy steelyard weight of Roman date. The weight is in the form of a female head wearing a Corinthian helmet which was likely to represent Minerva. The facial features are worn but discernable including large eyebrows. Below the chin a short length of the neck is featured, and this appears to be an intended terminal as the base is flat (the head does not stand on its own as it is top heavy). At the top of the helmet is a holed triangular projection which would have been used to suspend the weight. Similar steelyard weights have been found at South Shields Roman fort, Tyne and Wear which also depict Minerva (and also Diana) (Allason-Jones and Miket 1984 nos. 3.472 and 3.473).
The head weighs 27.9 grams / 0.98 oz / 430 grains.
Find of note status
This has been noted as an interesting find by the recorder.
Class: Minerva
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: ROMAN
Period from: ROMAN
Period to: ROMAN
Date from: Circa AD 43
Date to: Circa AD 409
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Height: 32.4 mm
Width: 17.3 mm
Weight: 27.9 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Other reference numbers
Other reference: 2017.365
Materials and construction
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Spatial metadata
Region: South East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: Oxfordshire (County)
District: Cherwell (District)
Parish or ward: Noke (Civil Parish)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: SP5413
Four figure Latitude: 51.81303213
Four figure longitude: -1.21808761
1:25K map: SP5413
1:10K map: SP51SW
Grid reference source: Centred on field
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 10 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: NCL-CF6F62
Object type: STEELYARD WEIGHT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
A Roman copper alloy steelyard weight in the form of a male bust. The weight measures 33.93mm in length, 21.26mm in width and has a maximum th…
Workflow: Published
Find number: SF-FA1DF5
Object type: STEELYARD WEIGHT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
An incomplete Roman copper alloy, lead and iron anthromorphic steelyard weight. The object is in the shape of a human head, probably represen…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: NMS-083B83
Object type: STEELYARD WEIGHT
Broadperiod: ROMAN
Romano-British steelyard weight in the form of a bust of Minerva with a transverse suspension hole driven through the base of the crest of th…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618