Skip to content

Cart

Your cart is empty

REFERENCE: MG2304

An Islamic Glass Coin Weight, ca. 9th - 11th century CE

Sale price295 USD

This object qualifies for free USA shipping and a flat rate fee of $60 if shipping internationally.

Mold-pressed, of blue-green glass with two lines of Arabic text in the center.

These objects were for weighing coins, which were traded according to their weight and not according to the numbers printed on them.  Glass was a preferable medium since they could be made relatively easily and any chips or alterations were immediately visible to the naked eye. Begun in the Byzantine period, the practice of using glass coin weights continued into the Islamic period. Weights typically included an inscription mentioning its weight, equivalent value, and sometimes the name of the current governor.

Dimensions:  Diameter: 7/8 inch (2.2 cm)

Condition:  Intact and in excellent condition with no cracks, chips, or breaks.

Provenance:  Private Maryland collection of a diplomat, acquired while serving in Egypt between 1949 and 1956, and then by descent.

QUESTIONS? Just click the Contact Us tab on your right.

An Islamic Glass Coin Weight, ca. 9th - 11th century CE
An Islamic Glass Coin Weight, ca. 9th - 11th century CE Sale price295 USD