EARLY MEDIEVAL WEIGHT

An early-medieval barrel-shaped weight perhaps related to weighing of bullion and Islamic silver coinage (Dirhams) in Viking period exchanges for which these weights are often associated. (cf. SWYOR-E16C55). It is suggested that the weight may be part of a series based on the Viking ora or ortugar weighing systems, used for measuring bullion. This might indicate a date range in the 9th-11th centuries for the current object. It is biconical in form with flattened top and bottom surfaces. The weight has an iron core surrounded by a largely copper alloy casing.There are only 5 other examples of this type on the PAS database (as of October 2009). The weight is very similar to SF-4B1547, BH-C5E266, SF-042327, SF-B137C2, SF-334CE5 and KENT2080 as well as a published example illustrated in Biggs (1994: 14).Biggs notes that at some time in the 11th century a light ounce of c24g, derived from the Viking weight known as ora, was used for weighing gold. Weights related to this standard are, as this example, barrel-shaped, and made or iron with a copper-alloy casting.Biggs, 1995, Bullion Weights, p 9; and Mills, 2001, Saxon and Viking Artefacts, p 84.The diameter is approximately 42mm, the thi