EARLY MEDIEVAL WEIGHT

An incomplete copper alloy and silver Byzantine weight of 12 scruples. Early-Medieval, sixth or early seventh century. Length: 12.4mm; width: 12.3mm and 4.3mm thick. Weight: 6.01g. The weight is sub-square although it would probably have been square when complete. The weight is flat on both faces. At the front it has a mark of value: I B (= 12 scruples). At the centre, above the letters, is a plain cross. The letters and cross are in the form of inlaid silver and are framed by an indistinct and crudely inscribed groove. The rear face has finely executed parallel file marks.The weight has an inner core of metal which is reddish in colour where it is visible at the sides. This core is sandwiched by a thick layer of bright green copper alloy corrosion products that are powdery and unstable. Each flat face has the remains of a mid-green patina. A substantial amount of metal has been lost around the sides due to corrosion.Chris Enwhistle (Curator of Late Antiquity (eastern Mediterranean); Byzantium; Icons) at The British Museum has commented (16/08/2008):'I know of only 3 examples [from Britain]. One in the British Museum supposedly from near Taunton and given by Franks in 1866 (D. Buck