✅ SOLVED Coin or apothecary weight?

[lenmac65]

I found this interesting little square piece in a farm field today. It has a circle in the middle and in each corner. It also has something that looks like double V's on one edge. I am not sure of the metal type, but there does not appear to be any corrosion. If I remember rightly, the VDI on the Equinox showed it as a 19 to 21. Could this be a coin weight or Apothecary weight? Could it be a game piece of some sort? Am I just imagining something out of desperation? I have found 18th century coins in this field, so I am hoping this is old too. Any ideas or insights would be appreciated. Thanks as always!

 

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[Lenrac2]

I have no clue but I like it! I hope we find out what it is! Nice mystery!

 

[Bramblefind]

Neat find! I've seen those circle symbols indicate a pennyweight. This may be a 5 pennyweight bullion weight...? Can you weigh it on a digital scale? If so, it would weigh about 7.7.grams or thereabouts.

 

[lenmac65]

Neat find! I've seen those circle symbols indicate a pennyweight. This may be a 5 pennyweight bullion weight...? Can you weigh it on a digital scale? If so, it would weigh about 7.7.grams or thereabouts.

Sounds like you really know your stuff, and I like where you're heading with it. I have a cheap digital scale, and it seems to be about six grams. Maybe it lost some weight over the years? Thanks for your insights. I am real curious about this thing.

 

[Bramblefind]

There is a nice display of weight images on the Colchester site here - towards the bottom is a similar 5 pennyweight. Many of them have countermarks and that maybe what the double V symbols are on your piece --- but I haven't seen those before.

coinweights

 

[lenmac65]

There is a nice display of weight images on the Colchester site here - towards the bottom is a similar 5 pennyweight. Many of them have countermarks and that maybe what the double V symbols are on your piece --- but I haven't seen those before.

coinweights

Very cool - thanks! I would feel better if this thing weighed a little more, but perhaps my scale is off. It does look similar to the weight in your screenshot and in the link. Thanks for your ongoing help.

 

[Bramblefind]

I agree about the weight being too light and that makes me wonder about it too - maybe a combination of wear, your scale, and the weight not being accurate to begin with. And of course there is always the chance this was meant to be something else.

 

[Bramblefind]

fyi There is a neat display of similar looking weights here too - see the third to last photo in the opening post-

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...spoon-handle-18th-century-bullion-weight.html

 

[villagenut]

Cool find, I like it whatever it is....but it does look like a weight

 

[lenmac65]

I agree about the weight being too light and that makes me wonder about it too - maybe a combination of wear, your scale, and the weight not being accurate to begin with. And of course there is always the chance this was meant to be something else.

All good points. Maybe tommorow I will weigh a known item to see if my scale is off; maybe a quarter or half.

 

[lenmac65]

fyi There is a neat display of similar looking weights here too - see the third to last photo in the opening post-

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/t...spoon-handle-18th-century-bullion-weight.html

The last one in the last row of that picture looks very similar. Thanks!

 

[ARC]

WEll Bramble is on the right trail... but possibly took a fork in the term "pennyweight".

IF this is truly an Apothecaries System piece... then those markings could mean various "values"... "Apothecary grains" etc...

IF you are curious as to what / where i am going with this...

Get ready for a read... heh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apothecaries'_system

 

[CRUSADER]

Neat find! I've seen those circle symbols indicate a pennyweight. This may be a 5 pennyweight bullion weight...? Can you weigh it on a digital scale? If so, it would weigh about 7.7.grams or thereabouts.

Agreed a 5 Pennyweight Bullion Weight.

 

[lenmac65]

WEll Bramble is on the right trail... but possibly took a fork in the term "pennyweight".

IF this is truly an Apothecaries System piece... then those markings could mean various "values"... "Apothecary grains" etc...

IF you are curious as to what / where i am going with this...

Get ready for a read... heh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apothecaries'_system

Thanks for the link. Very interesting info.

 

[lenmac65]

I agree about the weight being too light and that makes me wonder about it too - maybe a combination of wear, your scale, and the weight not being accurate to begin with. And of course there is always the chance this was meant to be something else.

I weighed a US quarter this morning, which showed that my cheap digital scale is accurate. Not sure what to think now, as it does look like a five pennyweight bullion weight, at least compared to some I see online. Perhaps it is under weight for the reasons you note. Thanks again.

 

[lenmac65]

Agreed a 5 Pennyweight Bullion Weight.

Thank you for sharing your opinion. Just out of curiosity, how old do you think these are? I am guessing 18th century. Also, have you seen these underweight like this before? Thanks again.

 

[CRUSADER]

Thank you for sharing your opinion. Just out of curiosity, how old do you think these are? I am guessing 18th century. Also, have you seen these underweight like this before? Thanks again.

Most ground found weights are under.
Late 18th C.

 

[lenmac65]

Most ground found weights are under.
Late 18th C.

Thanks! Good to know. I guess spending 200+ years in the soil would do that to a metal item.

 

[lenmac65]

Thank you all for your opinions and comments. I think I will mark this one solved, as the bullion weight ID makes sense to me. That is sort of what I was leaning toward from the start, but I wasn’t sure given my limited experience and knowledge of these items. I’m really glad it is not just some random scrap of metal. I don’t know about you, but I don’t necessarily have to find something valuable when I detect to be happy, as long as I find something interesting, which I certainly think this object is. Again, thank you so much for your insights; I appreciate them all.