Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 437 6 Feb 2019
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
ROMAN IMPERIAL, Commercial and Coin Weights and Stamps. Arcadius, with Honorius and Theodosius II. AD 383-408. Æ Exagium Solidi Weight (20.5mm, 4.26 g, 12h). Antioch mint. Struck circa AD 403-408. DDD NNN GGG, diademed and draped facing busts of Honorius, Theodosius, and Arcadius / EXAGI[VM S]OLIDI, Tyche of Antioch seated left on rocks; at feet, half–length figure of the river–god Orontes swimming left. Cf. Dürr 280; RIC X p. 8. Near VF, orangish earthen dark green patina, cleaning marks. Rare Antiochene type.
During the later Roman Empire, coin weights began appearing with the legend exagium solidi, a phrase which has often been translated as "the weight (or weighing) of a solidus", in order to deal with the practice of clipping. Exagium derives from the Latin exigere (lit. "to drive out"). However, extant examples of these weights vary and some weigh much less than the 4.5 g of a full-weight solidus. These lighter weights are thought to possibly represent the lowest acceptable weight and were used to withdraw under-weight solidi from circulation and thereby maintain an acceptable weight standard minimum for solidi to circulate at full value.
During the later Roman Empire, coin weights began appearing with the legend exagium solidi, a phrase which has often been translated as "the weight (or weighing) of a solidus", in order to deal with the practice of clipping. Exagium derives from the Latin exigere (lit. "to drive out"). However, extant examples of these weights vary and some weigh much less than the 4.5 g of a full-weight solidus. These lighter weights are thought to possibly represent the lowest acceptable weight and were used to withdraw under-weight solidi from circulation and thereby maintain an acceptable weight standard minimum for solidi to circulate at full value.