Byzantine Empire | Bronze Commercial Weight
Circa 6th–9th Century AD
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Object Details
•Type: Commercial Weight
•Empire: Byzantine Empire
•Date: Circa 6th–9th century AD
•Material: Bronze (Æ)
•Weight: 14.30 g
•Diameter: 14 mm
•Condition: Good Very Fine
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Description
This authentic Byzantine bronze commercial weight dates to approximately the 6th–9th centuries AD, a period corresponding to the consolidation and administrative refinement of the Byzantine Empire.
Commercial weights such as this were essential tools used in regulated markets and official transactions, ensuring accuracy and fairness in trade. They were employed by merchants, officials, and inspectors to verify quantities of goods, precious metals, and coinage, reflecting the empire’s highly organized economic system.
Crafted in durable bronze, these weights were designed for constant use and longevity. Their standardized form and precise mass underscore the Byzantine state’s emphasis on order, legality, and economic control, principles deeply embedded in imperial governance.
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Historical Context
During Late Antiquity and the early medieval period, the Byzantine Empire inherited and refined Roman systems of weights and measures. Accurate measurement was not only a practical necessity but also a legal and moral obligation, closely linked to imperial law and Christian ethics.
Objects like this commercial weight provide a rare glimpse into the everyday economic life of the Byzantine world, beyond coinage and ceremonial artifacts.
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Why This Object Matters
•Genuine Byzantine administrative and commercial artifact
•Used in regulated trade and official market control
•Solid bronze construction with good preservation
•Represents daily economic life rather than ceremonial use
•Highly collectible and educational historical object
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Included with This Piece
✔️ Certificate of Authenticity & Provenance
✔️ Protective archival-quality holder or sleeve
✔️ Handcrafted envelope made from traditional Amalfi paper, produced using pure cotton fibers following medieval techniques
✔️ Certificate envelope sealed with wax, bearing the official Numisnation logo