i65 



ilomau WBtiQf)t& fountr at flTelantrra. 



By Thomas May, F.E.I.S. 



Ji^^ 



LTHOUGH little definite infurmatiun can be derived 

 from the examination of the small weights, recently 

 found at Melandra, owing to their diversity among 

 themselves (a defect which has been observed in all 

 the extant weights of the Roman period), yet they form an 

 interesting study as illustrating the systems of weights and coins 

 introduced into this country by the Romans, which still form 

 the basis of our present denominations, and the relationship 

 between the two systems as they originally subsisted. 



They are twenty in number, and, with the exception of 

 No. 9a which is of bronze, are all of lead. They were found 

 close together in the north-east corner of the Roman encamp- 

 ment at Dinting, near Glossop, known as Melandra Castle (the 

 supposed Zerdotalia of the Ravennate), which is now in process 

 of excavation under the care of Mr. Robert Hamnett, and are 

 in a nearly perfect state of preservation, though covered with 

 a thick coating of oxide. 



Our illustration, which is reproduced from a photograph by 

 Mr. J. J. Phelps, of Manchester, represents nineteen of them 

 in a group, the one omitted, No. 16, having been discovered 

 after the photograph was taken. It includes, also, placed on 

 the extreme left, a curious conical helix of lead, of uncertain 

 use, f(nmd <jn precisely the same site. See No. 20. 



They are all whole multiples of the scripulum, but they 

 do not form a complete series or conform to one standard, 

 as will be seen from the subjoined lists. In these are given 

 their present and presumed ancient weights in grains, the 

 number of scripula and drachmae or denarii represented by 



