J 66 ROMAN WEIGHTS FOUND AT MELANDRA. 



each, and the norm or weight in grains of the libra to which 

 they severally conform. It will also be seen that there are three 

 sets of duplicates, of which two, Nos. 7 and 8, weighing 

 18 scripula, conform to different standards. The denomination 

 of two can be determined by the marks upon them. No. 15,* 

 weighing 1,188* grains, and marked ~— (3 undo:), is the 

 qiiadrans, which gives a norm of 4,752 grains for the libra, or 

 396 grains for the iinda, which is more than two hundred 

 grains below the average of the trade weights of the Higher 

 Empire, namely, 4,956 grains, and nearly one hundred grains 

 below that of the later Latin standard of 4,819 grains — a 

 decrease of one-fortieth occurring from imperial to Byzantine 

 times. No. 16, weighing 1,712.5 grains, and marked IIII 

 (4 iiiiciic), is the iriais, giving a norm of 5,137 grains for the 

 libra, or 428^5 grains for the iincia, which is nearly one 

 hundred grains higher than the average gold standard (5,053 

 grains) of the earliest and best period of the coinage. The 

 total difference between the two normals, deduced from the 

 Melandra weights, is 385 grains. 



There is found, however, to be as great a diversity between 

 other sets of weights of the same age. Those, for instance, in 

 the British Museum marked " Ad Augusti temp." range from 

 4,971 to 5,535 grains to the libra; and in another instance, 

 a single set varies fnjm 4,700 to 5,168. For the purpose of 

 comparison, a table is subjoined, giving, in adjoining columns, 

 the weight in grains of (1) a set in the British Museum; (2) the 

 normal weights derived from the coins given in Dr. W. Smith's 

 Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities ; (3) the like from 

 the coins in Mr. Hill's Handbook of Greek and Roman Coins ; 

 (4) and (5) the like from the two weights above mentioned, 

 Nos. 15 and 16 of the Melandra set. 



These numbers refer lo the plale and the table on page 168. 



