Colchester Archaeological Report 2: The Roman small finds

WEIGHTS (Fig 105; 2510-2515)
2510 Fig 105 SF LWC 3584(C), J1551. Make-up, redeposited
Period 2 demolition. Period 3. A cone-shaped lead weight,
with the remains of an iron shaft, square in section,
embedded in the upper face. This shaft is all that remains of
a hook or suspension loop. On the wall towards the top edge
the object there is a stamp, either blundered or damaged,
which appears to be an M set on a ground line, surmounted
by further markings, now illegible. The object weighs 189.1
gm, close to seven Roman ounces, so the marks above the M
may be S- for seven ounces (Kisch 1966, table 12). 1
The M
probably stands for moneta, indicating the authority of the
government department responsible for the control of
weights and measures. Weights were inseparably linked to
the monetary system, as being both the coin and the weight
of the coin. Length 41 .0mm, diameter 36.0mm.
2511 Fig 105 SF LWC 3832(C), R69. Make-up. Period 4b. Copperalloy
disc-shaped ?weight with an inscribed Lformed by two
strokes of a chisel, set round two punched dots (Hassall
1978, 477, no 31). Maximum diameter 17.0mm, thickness
1.5 mm. Weight 1.9 gm, possibly for two scruples (scripula)
(there were 24 scruples to the Roman ounce). The
inscription could also stand for two scruples (cf Kisch 1966,
table 4).
2512 Fig 105 SF BKC 2859(C), H379 L13. Dump. Period 5b (end),
and possibly into 5c and 6. Copper-alloy disc-shaped weight.
Diameter 14.5mm, thickness 2.5 mm. Weight 3.4 gm,
possibly for three scruples (1/8 oz).
Note
As lead oxidizes very easily it was an unreliable metal to use for
weights (Kisch 1966,81). The present weight of this object may
therefore be misleading.
101
Fig 105 Weights (1:1)