Nomos AG
Auction 11 9 October 2015
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SYRIA, Seleukis and Pieria. Seleukeia Pieria. 151/150 BC. Weight of 1 Mina (Lead, 100x102mm, 543.23 g), Eudoros, agoranomos of the city, S.E. 162. ΣΕΛΕΥΚΕΙΟΣ / ΒΞΡ - ΕΠΙ / ΕΥ-Δ-Ω -ΡΟΥ / Μ-Ν-Α Anchor; its shaft between two confronted dolphins and with one dolphin swimming left below right. Rev. Lattice-work pattern. E. Seyrig, Scripta Varia, BAH 125 (Paris, 1985), p. 377, 12 and pl. 111, 12 (this piece). M. Rostovtzeff, The Social and Economic History of the Hellenistic World (Oxford 1941), pl. LV, 2 (this piece). An impressive and very well-preserved ancient weight. Very rare. Attractive grey patina. When found the left bottom corner was slightly bent, but has since been straightened. Some minor scratches and some remaining earthen deposits, otherwise, good very fine.
Ex Künker 136, 10 March 2008, 777 and from the collection of Comte François Chandon de Briailles (1892-1953).
This remarkable weight was made as a pair with a half-mina weight once in the Fleischman collection (True et al., A Passion for Antiquities...Malibu, 1994, pp. 203-204, 97). Both pieces were made from the same mold (as pointed out by the Fleischman cataloguer, Leo Mildenberg - though the dimensions given there seem to be incorrect), but when used for this piece the original weight inscription of ΗΜΙΜΝΑΙΟΝ was recut to what we see here. As for the magistrate Eudoros, nothing is known about him save that he signed these weights (IGLS 1213g). The city of Seleukeia was, of course, the port of Antioch and was a site of great commercial importance: thus, it had a constant need for weights to ensure that trade could be carried out efficiently and correctly. The obverses of these weights were often decorated, as here, but primarily bore clear indications of weight; for extra security some of the reverses were given a pattern so that any alteration would be immediately apparent. This piece, and the weight that appears as lot 132, below, both bear a lattice-work pattern.
Ex Künker 136, 10 March 2008, 777 and from the collection of Comte François Chandon de Briailles (1892-1953).
This remarkable weight was made as a pair with a half-mina weight once in the Fleischman collection (True et al., A Passion for Antiquities...Malibu, 1994, pp. 203-204, 97). Both pieces were made from the same mold (as pointed out by the Fleischman cataloguer, Leo Mildenberg - though the dimensions given there seem to be incorrect), but when used for this piece the original weight inscription of ΗΜΙΜΝΑΙΟΝ was recut to what we see here. As for the magistrate Eudoros, nothing is known about him save that he signed these weights (IGLS 1213g). The city of Seleukeia was, of course, the port of Antioch and was a site of great commercial importance: thus, it had a constant need for weights to ensure that trade could be carried out efficiently and correctly. The obverses of these weights were often decorated, as here, but primarily bore clear indications of weight; for extra security some of the reverses were given a pattern so that any alteration would be immediately apparent. This piece, and the weight that appears as lot 132, below, both bear a lattice-work pattern.