A ROMAN BRONZE CUP-WEIGHT

CIRCA 3RD-5TH CENTURY A.D.

Details

A ROMAN BRONZE CUP-WEIGHT
CIRCA 3RD-5TH CENTURY A.D.
The hemispherical cup with an inscription on the body reading, 'EX A S CAS', meaning ex(actum) a(d) s(emis) Cas(toris), concentric rings on the underside; together with a lead-filled lion-head weight, the face in high relief, framed by a thick mane, his mouth agape
2 3/8 in. (6 cm) diam., 158 g.=½ libra and 2½ in. (6.4 cm) max. diam.; 653 g.= 2 librae respectively (2)

Provenance

with M.S., Ashdod, Israel, early 1990s.

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Lot Essay

The formula exactum ad Castoris was intended to be an official guarantee of the standard weight of the piece. The word Castor or an abbreviation of it often appears on sets of weights because the temple of Castor in Rome was a fiscal depot and a sealer's office for adjusting weights. The 'S' in the centre of the inscription denotes the value, semis, (half) which equates to half a Roman pound or libra, today's equivalent of 6 ounces. For a detailed discussion of Roman and Byzantine weights, cf. B. Kisch, Scales and Weights, New Haven and London, 1977, pp. 150-155.

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