POST MEDIEVAL WEIGHT

Cast copper alloy trade weight of George III (1760-1820) with three crowned 'GR' cyphers at 2, 5 and 10 o'clock and the Duchy of Cornwall coat of arms incised at the centre of the upper face. The Duchy coat of arms consists of a triangular shield with 15 circular discs or 'bezants' in five rows, with 5 bezants at the top and 1 at the bottom, which supposedly derives from the Byzantine gold coins used to release the Duke of Cornwall from the Saracens during the Crusades. The object weighs 207.5 g, or 7.3 ounces, so almost half a pound.The initials GR may not be a royal cypher and refer to George III, but the bifid crown with rounded sides is typical of the Georgian period and trade weights with these initials were widely used in the areas outside the major cities from the late 18th century to the early 19th century (Bailey, 2000, 44), during the reign of George III. The Duchy stamp would have been used to identify the weight when it was used locally, in the provinces.