Ancient Roman / Byzantine Cast Lead (Pb) Cubic Coin & Bullion Weight — Drachm / Denarius Mass Standard (4.04 grams — c. 1st–6th Century AD)

Authenticity & Guarantee

• Provenance: Ex-private European collection, legally acquired from international sales; Classical Roman / Byzantine Levantine Sphere.

Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions

• Object: Cast Lead (Pb) Cubic Commercial Coin Weight (Exagium / Sanjah)

• Culture / Period: Roman Imperial to Byzantine / Late Antique Era

• Date Range: Circa 1st Century AD – 6th Century AD (c. 100 – 600 AD)

• Exact Weight: 4.04 grams

• Material: Cast Lead (Plumbum / Pb)

• Form & Architecture: Dense, solid cast cubic geometry (cubus) featuring six flat square faces and softly rounded, hand-finished corners; engineered with high lead density to concentrate mass in a compact profile for high-precision balance scale pans

• Condition: Exceptional, 100% complete ancient condition. Unusually pristine preservation retaining its full target mass of 4.04g; preserved under a thick, authentic chalky off-white to pale-buff lead carbonate oxidation patina (cerussite) over a stable, heavy dark-grey lead core. Free of active lead corrosion (lead rot) or modern CONTEXT & TYPOLOGICAL LORE

• Roman & Byzantine Lead Metrology (Exagia)

  In the bustling market squares (agora / forum) across the Roman and Byzantine Near East, lead (plumbum) served as the primary metal for daily commercial weights. Easily cast and dense, lead weights were manufactured for civic inspectors (agoranomoi / curatores civitatis) and private moneychangers to evaluate silver denarii, gold solidi, raw bullion, and costly spices on delicate equal-arm balance scales (statera).

  Cubic Stability & Mass Standard (4.04g)

  At 4.04 grams, this cubic weight aligns closely with a standard drachm / denarius fraction mass within the Eastern Mediterranean metrological system. The strict cubic geometry provided significant operational benefits in daily trade: unlike spherical or disc weights, cubic weights sat flat and motionless on balance scale pans, eliminating slipping during sensitive measurements of precious metal currency.

  Typological Analysis & Exact Classification

  • Primary Class: Classical Antiquity Personal Equipment & Metrology / Roman Lead Weight

  • Sub-Class: Solid Cubic Lead Coin Weight Class (Exagium Plumbum)

  Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers

  • British Museum (Accession No. 1856,0701.2320): Roman / Byzantine small cubic lead scale weight.

  • Israel Museum, Jerusalem: Roman and Byzantine lead cubic commercial weights excavated from Holy Land market strata.

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