I would like to thank Melih Arslan, the ex-Director of the Museum who permitted me to study and publish the weights. I would also thank Zehra F. Taşkıran and Mehtap Türkmen who facilitated my work and helped me during my studies in the museum. Eight of the seventy-four weights in the present catalogue were published previously by M. Acara Eser (see Acara Eser 2009).There have been nearly ninety balance weights in the collection of Anatolian Civilizations Museum in Ankara; the present article covers seventy-four of them. Three weights (N° 1-3) date to the Late Classic / Early Hellenistic periods; two are Late Roman Imperial weights (N° 4-5); seventeen are Early Byzantine weights (No 6-22) and fifty-two are Islamic weights which date from the 10th century through the early 20th century (N° 23-74).
1The denomination of the first weight (N° 1) is clear since its mass corresponds its denominational mark (H) on it. But since it does not bear any ethnic or symbol it is impossible to attribute it to any city. The folded and rounded corners are characteristic for the Classical and Hellenistic lead weights. There are a lot of examples with folded and rounded corners found in the excavations at the Athenian Agora1. The second weight (N° 2) is a hemimnaion according to its mass but the meaning of the large M on the top is not clear. If it is a hemimnaion then the M is not an initial of the denominational mark, instead it may be the initial of an ethnic but this is not certain. The meaning of the letter (inverted E? or H) between the middle legs of the M is a key point to understand the top design. However the obscure letter may be a damaged H; then one may read it as H+M which stands for a hemimnaion. Anyway it is hard to attribute it to any city. The third weight (N° 3) is a tetarton (i.e. one-fourth of a mna) and it is hard also to attribute it to any city since it does not bear an ethnic. The symbol, i.e. shield (?), is a common symbol and cannot be attributed to any city.
2N° 4-5 are spherical weights doubly truncated on the top and bottom; they are bronze weights with lead core and characteristic for the Late Roman Period. These forms were replaced in the markets by the early Byzantine forms (N° 6-22), i.e. square, discoid and octagonal bronze weights. Byzantine weights in the catalogue may be placed under two groups: Commercial weights (N° 6-8, 17) and coin weights (N° 9-16, 18-22). The majority of the weights in the catalogue are Islamic (dirhams), i.e. Seljuks and Ottomans. Some are barrel-shaped (N° 23-29); some are small square or discoid weights (N° 30-40) with bird’s eye motifs; some are square prism or cubic in form (N° 41-50); some are the polyhedron weights which bear bird’s eye motifs on their bodies (N° 51-61) and some polyhedron weights with triangular and square facets (N° 62-63) and some are octagonal weights (N° 64-74).
3As far as dating is concerned, the first three lead weights (N° 1-3) may be dated to the Late Classic and Early Hellenistic periods. The two spherical weights may be dated to the 4th-5th centuries A.D., i.e. they are Late Roman weights. Part of the Byzantine weights (N° 6-16) may be dated to the Early Byzantine Period of the 6th-7th centuries while one example (N° 21) may be dated to 5th-6th centuries; the others (N° 17-20, 22) may be dated to the Middle Byzantine Period. Most of the Islamic weights (N° 23-61) may be dated to the 10th-13th/14th centuries while some (N° 62-74) may be dated to the 19th-early 20th centuries, i.e. Late Ottoman Period.
Fig. 1
- 2 Tekin 2013: no PMA 2236.
4Lead, 236.34 g, 47 x 45 x 12 mm. Square in form; corners are folded inwards. On the top, a large H which stands for hemimnaion (mna of 472.68 g), in relief. The bottom is blank2.
5Lead, 223.16 g, 43 x 44 x 12 mm. Square in form. On the top, a large M and an obscure letter (inverted E? or H) at the place where the middle legs of the M are crossed; all in relief. The bottom is blank. If the M stands for the denomination it should be a mna but the mass does not correspond to a mna; instead it corresponds to a hemimnaion (mna of 446.32 g). So it is highly likely that the obscure letter is an H; then H+M stands for a hemimnaion.
6Lead, 107.29 g, 30 x 30 x 11 mm. Square in form. On the top, an oval shield (?) in low-relief. The bottom is blank. Although its mass is somewhat low, it may be a tetarton (mna of 429.16 g). Since it does not bear an ethnic it is hard to attribute it to any city.
- 3 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 8 (Fig. 12). Tekin 2015b: nos 6-11. For the spherical Late Roman w (...)
7Bronze with lead content, 159.40 g, 33 x 27 mm. In the form of a flattened sphere doubly truncated with centring points on the top and bottom; engraved on the top with the denominational mark Ȣ ʕ; inlaid with silver which stands slightly proud of the surface. It is a six-uncia weight (uncia of 26.5 g)3.
8Bronze with lead content, 156.60 g, 36 x 21 mm. In the form of a flattened sphere doubly truncated with low centring points on the top and bottom; the body having a carinated profile; punched on the top with the denominational mark ʕ which denotes to a six-uncia or semis (litra of 313.2 g).
- 4 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 5 (Fig. 8). Tekin 2013: no 097 (denominational mark within wreath)
9Bronze, 48.52 g, 28 x 27 x 8 mm. Square in form with plain profile; engraved on the top with a Latin cross flanked by the denominational mark Γ Β (hardly legible), originally not inlaid. The bottom is blank. It is a two-uncia weight (uncia of 24.26 g)4.
- 5 Tekin 2013: nos 102-104 (not exact parallel, first two inlaid with silver).
10Bronze, 52.02 g, 29 x 29 x 8 mm. Square in form with plain profile. On the top, engraved with the denominational mark Γ Β within a square border formed of engraved and punched geometric motifs; only vertical line of the letter B is deeply engraved, the two semi-circular parts are incised. Originally it may have been inlaid but the inlay is missing. The bottom is blank but irregular incisions. It is a two-uncia weight (uncia of 26.01 g)5.
- 6 Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 284.
11Bronze, 26.45 g, 25 x 22 x 5 mm. Square in form with slightly convex profile. On the top, engraved with the denominational mark Γ Α, originally inlaid but the inlay is missing. The bottom is blank. It is a one-uncia weight6.
- 7 Breuer and Alenus-Lecerf 1965: fig. 22.9; Hendin 2007: no 403; Qedar 1979: no 4172.Tekin and Baran (...)
12Bronze, 13.11 g, 18 x 19 x 4 mm. Square in form with plain profile. Engraved and punched on the top with a wreath enclosing a cross above the denominational mark N Γ; both inlaid but the inlay is missing; one dot at each corner of the weight. It is a three-nomismata weight (nomisma of 4.37 g). The bottom is blank7.
- 8 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 4 (Fig. 7) but misidentified as 3-nomismata.
13Bronze, 10.21 g, 18x18x4 mm. Square in form with plain profile. Engraved and punched on the top with the denominational mark Ν Β; the bottom is blank. Although its mass is somewhat high, it is a two-nomismata weight (nomisma of 5.10 g, “a high mass for two-nomismata”).8
- 9 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 3 (Fig. 6). Dalton 1901: no 442; Breuer and Alenus-Lecerf 1965: fi (...)
14Bronze, 8.71 g, 15 x 15 x 4 mm. Square in form with plain profile. Engraved on the top with a wreath enclosing the denominational mark Ν Β; the bottom is blank. It is a two-nomismata (nomisma of 4.35 g)9.
- 10 For the variations of one-nomisma weights see Weber 2009.
15Bronze, 4.39 g, 14 x 15 x 2 mm. Square in form with plain profile. Engraved and punched on the top with the denominational mark N and below, three punched dots. The bottom is blank. It is a one-nomisma weight10.
- 11 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 1 (Fig. 4). See also Weber 2009: no 21; Tekin 2013: no 314; 2015b: (...)
16Bronze, 4.37 g, 14 x 12 x 2 mm. Square in form with plain profile. Engraved and punched on the top with the denominational mark N; at each angle of the N, a three-dot motif. The bottom is blank. It is a one-nomisma weight11.
- 12 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 2 (Fig. 5). Tekin 2015b: 312-14.
17Bronze, 4.49 g, 16 x 13 x 2 mm. Rectangular in form with plain profile. Engraved and punched on the top with the denominational mark N; at each angle of the N, a three-dot motif. The bottom is blank. It is a one-nomisma weight12.
18Bronze, 9.03 g, 20 x 4 mm. Discoid in form with raised rim and a thin centring point on the top; engraved on the top with a wreath enclosing the denominational mark N B, originally inlaid but the inlay is missing. It is a two-nomismata weight (nomisma of 4.51 g). Corroded13.
19Bronze, 8.90 g, 20 x 3 mm. Discoid in form with plain profile; engraved on the top with a wreath enclosing the denominational mark N B, originally inlaid but the inlay is missing. It is a two-nomismata weight (nomisma of 4.45 g).
- 14 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 9 (Fig. 13). Tekin 2015b: no 666 ff.
20Bronze, 733.6 g, 85 x 17 mm. Discoid in form with plain profile. On the top engraved concentric circles from the centring point through the edge. The bottom is blank but nailed at four point and a low hole at center. It is a commercial weight and it may be a thirty-uncia (uncia of 24.45 g)14.
21Bronze, 4.20 g, 13 x 4 mm. Discoid in form with plain profile; two concentric grooves around a centring point on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a one-nomisma15.
22Bronze, 4.12 g, 13 x 4 mm. Discoid in form with carinated profile. On the top and bottom, four bird’s eye motifs. Although the bird’s eye motifs occur also on the Islamic weights the mass of the present (and the following) weight corresponds to the Byzantine one-nomisma.
23Bronze, 4.02 g, 12 x 3 mm. Discoid in form with plain profile. On the top and bottom, two bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a one-nomisma.
24Bronze, 17.51 g, 21 x 7 mm. Octagonal in form with a centring point on the top; engraved with two circles on the top (one along the edge). At center, slightly engraved with a gamma-like mark. On the bottom deeply engraved irregular lines. Its form and mass correspond to a Byzantine weight; if so it is a four-nomismata weight (nomisma of 4.38 g).
25Lead, 37.02 g, 23 x 24 x 7 mm. Square in form with rounded corners; made from a seal-like object. Its mass corresponds to a nine-nomismata weight (nomisma of 4.11 g) but not certain.
26Bronze, 140.41 g, 34 x 22 mm. Barrel-shaped. The top and bottom are blank. A punch mark on one side. Its mass corresponds to a fifty-dirham (dirham of 2.80 g).
27Bronze, 57.66 g, 27 x 13 mm. Barrel-shaped. On the top, illegible inscription in Arabic in relief. The bottom is blank. Circular groove near the edge on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham (dirham of 2.88 g)16
- 17 Holland 1986: no 81; 2009: nos 113-114; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 326.
28Bronze, 14.62 g, 15 x 11 mm. Barrel-shaped with centring points and circular grooves near the edge on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 2.92 g)17.
- 18 For similar forms see Holland 2009: no 153.
29Bronze, 7.90 g, 14 x 6 mm. Barrel-shaped. Circular groove near the edge on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a two-mithqal/dinar (mithqal of 3.95 g)18.
30Bronze, 57.91 g, 23x19 mm. Barrel-shaped with vertical ridges. Three bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham (dirham of 2.89 g).
- 19 Kürkman 2003: no 109; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 333.
31Bronze, 28.83 g, 18 x16 mm. Barrel-shaped with vertical ridges. Top and bottom are blank. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.88 g)19.
- 20 Holland 2009: no 148; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 126 (five-dirham).
32Bronze, 28.64 g, 19 x 14 mm. Barrel-shaped with vertical ridges. On the top, double bird’s eye motifs, the bottom is blank. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.86 g)20.
- 21 Holland 2009: no 130; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 314.
33Bronze, 5.97 g, 13 x 12 x 4 mm. Square in form. Five bird’s eye motifs on the top, the bottom is blank. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.98 g)21.
34Bronze, 5.91 g, 13 x 13 x 4 mm. Square in form. Five bird’s eye motif on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.95 g)22.
35Bronze, 5.72 g, 12 x 12 x 5 mm. Square in form with carinated profile. Five bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.86 g)23.
36Bronze, 5.78 g, 12 x 12 x 5 mm. Square in form with carinated profile. Five bird’s eye motifs on the top and four bird’s eye motif on the bottom. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.89 g).
37Bronze, 5.89 g, 12 x 12 x 5 mm. Square in form. Four bird’s eye motif on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.94 g).
- 24 For the similar examples of this countermark cf. Kürkman 2003: no 85 (read as Muhammed); Tekin and (...)
- 25 Lowick 1977: nos 10-11 in the Table; Tekin 1996.
- 26 Kürkman 2003: no 89; Tekin and Merzeci 2012: nos 99-100, 103, 108, 120; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: (...)
38Bronze, 5.80 g, 12 x 12 x 4 mm. Square in form. Double bird’s eye motif on both sides; on one side, also Arabic stamp. It may be read “ABD 7” (Abdullah 7) but if one may interpret the V at below as a lam (ۯ) placed diagonally then it may be read as “AD/L” (Adil=just)24. This countermark occurs also as ADL on the Byzantine folles of the 10th-11th centuries found in the eastern part of the Anatolia25. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.90 g)26.
39Bronze, 5.65 g, 13 x 13 x 4 mm. Square in form. Double bird’s eye motif on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a two-dirham (dirham of 2.83 g)27.
40Bronze, 2.91 g, 10 x 11 x 3 mm. Square in form. One bird’s eye motif on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a one-dirham28.
- 29 Tekin and Merzeci 2012: nos 113, 116-119; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 312.
41Bronze, 2.87 g, 10 x 10 x 4 mm. Square in form with carinated profile. One bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a one-dirham29.
42Bronze, 20.54 g, 20 x 9 mm. Thick discoid in form. Four bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Although its mass is somewhat low, it may be an eight-dirham weight (dirham of 2.57 g).
43Bronze, 8.39 g, 15 x 5 mm. Discoid in form. Five bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a three-dirham weight (dirham of 2.79 g). Alternatively its mass also corresponds to a two-mithqal (mithqal of 4.20 g).
44Bronze, 294.5 g, 38 x 39 x 29 mm. Square prism in form with bevelled edges. All faces are full of punched dots and some stamps. Its mass corresponds to a 100-dirham weight (dirham of 2.94 g).
45Bronze, 14.63 g, 13 x 14 x 9 mm. Square prism in form. Eight bird’s eye motifs on the top and bottom faces; sides are blank. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 2.92 g).
46Bronze, 14.35 g, 14 x 15 x 9 mm. Square prism in form with carinated profile. Five bird’s eye motifs on both sides. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 2.87 g).
- 30 For cubic dirhams see Holland 2009: n°117 ff.
47Bronze, 58.80 g, 20 x 20 x 18 mm. Cubic in form. On all faces, twelve bird’s eye motifs around the central bird’s eye motif. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham weight (dirham of 2.94 g)30.
- 31 Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 310.
48Bronze, 29.05 g, 15 x 15 x 15 mm. Cubic in form. On the all faces have five bird’s eye motifs and one face has one bird’s eye motif. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 2.90 g)31.
49Bronze, 28.98 g, 15 x 15 x 15 mm. Cubic in form. Nine bird’s eye motifs on four faces and seven bird’s eye motifs on the two faces. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 2.90 g).
50Bronze, 28.73 g, 14 x 15 x 15 mm. Cubic in form. Double bird’s eye motifs on each face. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 2.87 g).
51Bronze, 14.47 g, 12 x 12 x 12 mm. Cubic in form. All faces have one large bird’s eye motif except two sides. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 2.89 g).
52Bronze, 14.42 g, 12 x 12 x 12 mm. Cubic in form. All faces have one bird’s eye motif. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 2.88 g).
53Bronze, 14.31 g, 12 x 12 x 12 mm. Cubic in form. Seven bird’s eye motifs on the four faces and five bird’s eye motifs on the two faces. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 2.86 g).
- 32 For this weight and the similar following weights cf. Tekin and Merzeci 2012: n°129 ff; Tekin and B (...)
54Bronze, 28.98 g, 19 x 15 mm. Polyhedron in form. Concentric circles on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 2.90 g)32.
55Bronze, 29.00 g, 18 x 16 mm. Polyhedron in form. Concentric circles on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 2.90 g).
56Bronze, 28.78 g, 19 x 15 mm. Polyhedron in form. Rosette motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.88 g).
57Bronze, 29.81 g, 20x15 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.98 g).
58Bronze, 29.80 g, 21 x 15 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.98 g).
59Bronze, 28.93 g, 20 x 15 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.89 g).
60Bronze, 27.33 g, 19x15 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.73 g).
61Bronze, 29.16 g, 19x15 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.92 g).
62Bronze, 14.50 g, 16 x12 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 2.0 g).
- 33 Tekin and Merzeci 2012: no 143 ff; Tekin and Baran Çelik 2013: no 339 ff.
63Bronze, 14.44 g, 14 x 12 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 2.89 g)33.
64Bronze, 14.22 g, 15 x 12 mm. Polyhedron in form. One large bird’s eye motif on the top and bottom; all facets are full of bird’s eye motifs. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 2.84 g).
- 34 For a similar countermark on Byzantine folles cf. Lowick et al. 1977: no 26 in the Table.
- 35 For this weight and the similar following weight cf. Tekin and Merzeci 2012: n° 161; Tekin and Bara (...)
65Bronze, 29.88 g, 22 mm. Polyhedron in form with triangular and square facets. All facets have stamps with illegible arabic inscriptions or symbol34. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham (dirham of 2.99 g)35.
66Bronze, 15.16 g, 18 mm. Polyhedron in form with triangular and square facets. All facets have stamps with illegible arabic inscriptions. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 3.03 g).
- 36 Published in Acara Eser 2009: no 7 (Fig. 11). For the Islamic octagonal weights in different units (...)
67Bronze, 132.43 g, 40 x 14 mm. Octagonal prism in form. On the top, there is an obscure mark and the bottom is blank or illegible. Its mass corresponds to a forty-five-dirham (dirham of 2.94 g) or alternatively to a Byzantine five-uncia (uncia of 26.48 g). If it is a Byzantine weight it may be dated to the 5th-6th centuries but if it is an Ottoman weight then it may be dated to the 18th-19th centuries. The attribution is not certain36.
68Bronze, 64.03 g, 27 x 13 mm. Octagonal prism in form. One side stamped with a tughra of Sultan (Abdulmecid?) and year (illegible). The other side is blank but bevelled edge. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham (dirham of 3.20 g).
69Brass, 63.95 g, 27 x 14 mm. Octagonal prism in form. Illegible stamp on the top and bottom. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham weight (dirham of 3.19 g).
70Bronze, 55.03 g, 30 x 10 mm. Octagonal prism in form. Both faces are blank but on one side one punch mark and illegible tughra and four large punch marks on the other side. Its mass corresponds to a twenty-dirham (dirham of 2.75 g).
71Bronze, 32.23 g, 22 x 10 mm. Octagonal prism in form. Top and bottom are blank. Its mass corresponds to a ten-dirham weight (dirham of 3.22 g).
72Bronze, 15.78 g, 18 x 7 mm. Octagonal prism in form. On one face, obscure stamp. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 3.15 g).
73Brass, 15.69 g, 19 x 6 mm. Octagonal prism in form. One side stamped with a semicircular dotted motif. The other side is blank. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 3.13 g).
74Bronze, 15.59 g, 17 x 8 mm. Octagonal prism in form. On the top, cartouche and tughra. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 3.12 g).
75Bronze, 15.35 g, 18 x 19 x 7 mm. Octagonal prism in form. Both faces are blank or illegible; central hole on both faces. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham weight (dirham of 3.07 g).
76Bronze, 16.43 g, 19 x 7 mm. Octagonal prism in form. On one side two stamps; one is W (=17= [12] 17, Abdulmecid) in cartouche and the other is the tughra of Abdulaziz (?) Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 3.28 g).
77Bronze, 15.99 g, 17 x 9 mm. Octagonal prism in form. Both sides are blank. Its mass corresponds to a five-dirham (dirham of 3.20 g).