Nomos 20

SELEUKID KINGS OF SYRIA. Period of Alexander I Balas or Alexander II Zabinas. Weight of 1/4 Mina (Lead, 58 mm, 127.00 g, 3 h), uncertain city in southern Anatolia or the Levant. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΥΟΝΤΟΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ / ΤΕΤΑ - ΡΤΟΝ (= during the reign of King Alexander / 1/4 [Mina]) On a central raised boss, anchor with its crown above and stock below; around, on a lower level, inscription. Rev. ΡωΠΙΚΟΝ (= "for minor items") Dolphin swimming to left; around, pattern of hemicircles (waves?). Apparently unpublished. An intriguing and unusual piece. With a creme-colored patina. Minor marks and casting flaws, otherwise, good very fine.

This weight must be Seleukid because its type is the dynastic anchor; additionally, it bears the name of a King Alexander – though which one it does not say! It would be helpful if either of the types – the anchor and the dolphin – appeared specifically on either king's coins, since that might provide a clue to the date of the weight, but neither type does. The nautical flavour of the designs might indicate that this weight was made in a port city. The weight's ancient description, tetarton - ropikon, running from the obverse to the reverse, means "a 1/4 [mina] for minor items", which means that this weight was designed to be used for weighing ordinary, everyday items, rather than for more important or valuable ones (i.e., this weight was accurate enough for simple purchases, but not for serious things like precious metals).