Huge 2 pound trade weight…

[Lord Verdigris]

I had another little streak of luck stuck down at work today. Tried a new little yard spot for a half hour on a break and got a few things. I got a Palmolive aluminum soap token, a blank large copper, a few modern penny’s, a 1968-1969 American Motors Corporation (AMC) "290" V8 engine fender emblem, and a musket butt plate. But best of all to me anyway was a heavy 2 pound (32 ounce) antique trade weight. I’m trying to nail down if it’s Victorian or Georgian but I’m not great at the symbols. I know the 2 is for the weight and the dagger for London but just my luck no easy crown and V or G to nail the date down. Maybe someone on here can help some. Thanks for looking! 😁👍

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

Very nice finds - congrats !

 

[Red-Coat]

Nice trade weight. The official verification marks for these fall into four principal categories:

• crowned regnal cyphers without other letters or devices which typically were used until the 19th Century;

• marks comprising letters with or without a crowned regnal cypher in which the letters usually refer to the local jurisdiction or a district of inspection;

• marks comprising or including heraldic devices.

• uniform verification stamp numbers, usually accompanied by regnal or crown marks

The first type was in use until the 19th Century, when the second type progressively began to replace it during the Imperial period. Yours is the third type, given the shield with St. George’s cross on it and the ‘dagger’ mark (actually the sword of St. Paul from the arms of the City of London) which was almost exclusively used in the Imperial period until about 1840. The Imperial period began with the adoption of the Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which came into effect on January 1, 1826. The fourth type was increasingly adopted by all local authorities, replacing the third type from about 1879 onwards.

For various reasons many local authorities chose not to have, or could not get, Imperial Standards until the 1830s (verification marks were not a statutory requirement until 1834/5), but that would probably be unlikely for London authorities.

Given the styling of the letter ‘A’ (denoting the Imperial Avoirdupois pound) and the other clues including the absence of any regnal or crown marks, I would say your weight is most likely Georgian rather than early Victorian.

Note also that sometimes these kinds of weights predate their official verification stamps, which were a later addition to unmarked weights to keep the users on the right side of the law.

 

[jewelerguy]

the 290 fender badge is from a late 60's AMC car

 

[Almy]

I've never seen one of those trade weights before. Wonderful find!
Do I see an ethereal Brittania on that copper?

 

[Lord Verdigris]

the 290 fender badge is from a late 60's AMC car

Nice info thanks 😁

 

[Lord Verdigris]

I've never seen one of those trade weights before. Wonderful find!
Do I see an ethereal Brittania on that copper?

I never looked it over hard but god chance! 😁

 

[Lord Verdigris]

Nice trade weight. The official verification marks for these fall into four principal categories:

• crowned regnal cyphers without other letters or devices which typically were used until the 19th Century;

• marks comprising letters with or without a crowned regnal cypher in which the letters usually refer to the local jurisdiction or a district of inspection;

• marks comprising or including heraldic devices.

• uniform verification stamp numbers, usually accompanied by regnal or crown marks

The first type was in use until the 19th Century, when the second type progressively began to replace it during the Imperial period. Yours is the third type, given the shield with St. George’s cross on it and the ‘dagger’ mark (actually the sword of St. Paul from the arms of the City of London) which was almost exclusively used in the Imperial period until about 1840. The Imperial period began with the adoption of the Weights and Measures Act of 1824, which came into effect on January 1, 1826. The fourth type was increasingly adopted by all local authorities, replacing the third type from about 1879 onwards.

For various reasons many local authorities chose not to have, or could not get, Imperial Standards until the 1830s (verification marks were not a statutory requirement until 1834/5), but that would probably be unlikely for London authorities.

Given the styling of the letter ‘A’ (denoting the Imperial Avoirdupois pound) and the other clues including the absence of any regnal or crown marks, I would say your weight is most likely Georgian rather than early Victorian.

Note also that sometimes these kinds of weights predate their official verification stamps, which were a later addition to unmarked weights to keep the users on the right side of the law.

Wow great info. Thank you! 🤩

 

[E-Trac-Ohio]

I see plenty of detail on the large cooper coin (Large Cent or KG ?) and one of the other ones looks like a Indian Cent for sure.
It's up to you but I would lightly and slowly clean the copper coins with "Andre Pencils" or Extra Fine Steel Wool.
Good chance you'll get a positive ID on the coins and maybe be able to read the dates.

Good Luck !

 

[Lord Verdigris]

I see plenty of detail on the large cooper coin (Large Cent or KG ?) and one of the other ones looks like a Indian Cent for sure.
It's up to you but I would lightly and slowly clean the copper coins with "Andre Pencils" or Extra Fine Steel Wool.
Good chance you'll get a positive ID on the coins and maybe be able to read the dates.

Good Luck !

I’m long overdue due to get a set of those pencils. 😁

 

[oldmxrat]

Very nice finds, congrats!

 

[ironhorse]

Hey bud! It's great to see you out and making finds!
Your famous half hour long hunts are way better than my whole spring...but that's another story lol
Great job...like the trade weight the most!

 

[Lord Verdigris]

Hey bud! It's great to see you out and making finds!
Your famous half hour long hunts are way better than my whole spring...but that's another story lol
Great job...like the trade weight the most!

Seems my all day hunts I get skunked then my short desperate hunts pay off! 🤣

 

[pepperj]

Nice Georgian weight, certainly a big one.

 

[Lord Verdigris]

Nice Georgian weight, certainly a big one.

Thanks! 😁