ROMAN WEIGHTS FOUND AT MELANDRA. 167 



Two bronze weights of the Roman uncia standard found by 

 Professor Flinders I'etrie, at Naukratis, in Egypt (Tanis, Fourth 

 Mem. of llie Egyptian Exploration Fund, j888, pt. II., p. 93) 

 weigh 396.7 and 400.9 grains respectively. The former 

 approximates very chjsely to that of the uncia derived from 

 No. 15 of the Melandra weights; and a leacien weight marked 

 2 (semis or 6 uncia), weighing 2,573 grains, recently discovered 

 during my uwn excavations at Wilderspool, gives an uncia of 

 428.8 grains, which is an equally close approximation to that 

 obtained from No. 16. 



Though numbered progressively in one series according to 

 weight, those under ccjnsideration are grouped in two tables, 

 each containing 10. These are respectively headed, "Trade 

 Weights, libra 4,752 grains," and "Coin Weights, libra 5,137 

 grains," according tu their approximation to either standard 

 derived from the two marked weights, Nos. 15 and 16, on 

 the supposition that they form separate sets, intended for 

 different purposes. 



The standard of the coinage was always higher and more 

 uniform than that of the ordinary trade weights or mean 

 standard, as will be perceived by a comparison of the following 

 averages, taken from the article on " Weights and Measures '' 

 in the Encyclopadia Britannica : — 



Trade Weights. Weight of libra. 



100 of the Higher Empire average 4,956 grains. 

 42 later Greek „ 4)857 „ 



16 later Latin „ 4,819 „ 



Coin Weights. Weight of libra. 



The oldest coins average 5,056 ,, 



The Campanian Roman ,, 5)05° » 



The Consular gold „ 5)037 „ 



The Imperial gold (aurei) „ S!°37 » 



The solidi of Constantine I. average 5,053 grains. 

 Justinian gold ... ... „ 4>996 „ 



Coin weights of glass of the Byzantine [)eriod, found in Egypt, 

 a\erage 68 grains to the solidus or sextula, giving a libra of 

 4,986 grains. 



