WEIGHTS 



105 



II. B. Probably Roman Weights. 



Shape. 



4 Inverted frustum 

 of cone 



Possible multiple of Possible 

 Weight (a) (b) (c) original 



in grains. Libra. Uncia. Drachma, weight. Notes. 



1870-4 g 4i 36 1893-8 Somewhat 



worn 



10 Cylinder or rounded 

 prism, with deep 

 furrow across the 

 summit filled in 

 at one part 



Did the 

 furrow 

 provide 

 socket s 

 for 2 ends 

 of a ring 

 handle ? 



15 Cylinder with deep 

 furrow across 

 the summit, and 

 iron nail driven 



Bronze, 

 deeply 

 pitted 



I 



Notes ox the Eomax Weights. 



1. In Table II. A, I have marked with the letters (a) to (/) the 

 specimens which seem to make a series both by their weight and (with 

 the exception of (a). No. 7, which is simply i lb.) shape and to be 

 multiples of I5 drachmae. This weight (No. 33) was that of the 

 Antoninianus or base silver denarius of Caracalla (198 — 217 A.D.). 



2. The drachma itself was the weight of the silver denarius of Nero 

 (54—68 A.D.) and the silver coin of Diocletian (284—305 A.D.) to which 

 some authorities attach the name miliarense which probably implies a 

 value of '/ looolb. of gold. 



3. The only coin I can find of which No. 31, which is punctured four 

 times, gives four times the weight is the quinarius (half-denarius) of 

 Diocletian. Its own weight, however, if we disregard the punctures 

 which do not always (as may be seen, e.g., by comparing 9 and 13) give 

 any numerical measure of the weight, is that of 3 gold siliquae of Julian 

 (360—363 A.D.). 



4. In regard to No. 4 Mr. May in his first article, assuming that its 

 original weight was 4^ unciae (1893-8 grains)' and that it belonged to 

 the same series as those I have marked (a) — (/), ingeniously calculated 

 that it represented five stipendia of the age of Augustus, a stipendivm 

 being the pay due to a legionary soldier three times every year. If this 

 were sound, it would afford an attractive explanation of the five dots 

 which the weight bears on its face, and one would conjecture that it 

 represented some regular fee of one of the senior centurions, though 

 rather a high one. The annual pay of the legionary in the early Empire 



1. In Mr. May's weighing 3 years ago, the result was 1882-08 grains ; 

 it has no doubt lost some of its carbonate coating since then, as it now 

 weighs only 1870'4. 



