Posted 12 years ago
dempseycol…
(89 items)
Do you have this one? If not do you know what it is? Or if you do please let me know what this actually is. I was told it was a colonial weight to measure how much of a type of metal weighed. I have had this a while. It was found in a lot of uncleaned Roman coins years back. The coin looks great. It measures 3/8" thick and a little smaller than a quarter. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Even if you do not know please get back to me to let me know. Thank you, Pete
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff428/dempseycollector/Pictureme068.jpg
I also would like to know what this is. Looks like an old medallion to me but also a coin?
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff428/dempseycollector/Pictureme066.jpg
This looks like a coin weight for an English half crown (2 shillings 6pence). The half crown was a silver coin and this brass weight would have been used to check a coin to see if it was the correct or full weight. Coins were often "shaved" to remove silver from the edges which was then sold for silver and as a result the coins were often too light weight to be worth full face value. Counterfeit coins were also detected this way since they were often made in debased silver or base metals and were therefore also too light.
Actually, I think what you heard may be correct. It's buried somewhere in my memory but I can't remember exactly. The Romans set accurate systems for weighing & God help anybody who cheated by filing their counter-weights etc.. A side note: there is a town in S.E. Dominican Republic called La Romana. When there, I inquired about the origin of the name & told that as a port/market town in the old days, it was named for the Roman scale system. Totally useless info.! The St. George & dragon seems strange considering the Roman connection. Was this found with Roman coins?
Just googled St. George & it fits as he was a Roman soldier from Greece. The dates for him fit also as it fits in before the Romans fled from the "Brits" around 400 AD.
Yes I did find this in an ancient roman uncleaned lot. What date would t his be then? Is it possible it got mixed in with older ancient coins but could be colonial age?
I'm no expert & don't know where you found it. You can google-up St. George as easily as I can. He was before 300 AD & it fits with what you say about it.
I'm no expert & don't know where you found it. You can google-up St. George as easily as I can. He was before 300 AD & it fits with what you say about it.
Hey Mil---. you got it covered & saved me a lot of typing. Thanks.
great information -- thanks for posting
I just received an email from someone....
You have a Charles I half crown (two shillings and sixpence) brass coin weight from around 1630.
Hopefully this is accurate and I have the right date now. Awesome! Thanks everyone for all the help.
Wonder why it was with Roman artifacts as the Romans were out of the U.K. by about 400AD?
By the way there is no dragon on this piece and the rider is English cavalry and not St. Michael or George
I just found out there are 2 versions of this weight. Mine is the rare one I am happy to find out.
Cahrles I, Halfcrown, King on horseback l. HONI SOIT, etc / Large
CR above 2s 6d (c. 1625) Very Rare
That is really cool!
When I finally get it authenticated and graded I will post new pic. Been a while and very anxious to authenticate it. Thanks for all the help guys. Been too long. I have several items I will be asking about. Wait till you see my cute Buddha figurine. Talk soon.