**First Time At Auction**

Northwestern Europe, England, ca. late 18th to mid-19th century CE. A wonderful brass and wood currency scale for weighing sovereign coins, that self-erects when the wooden case is opened. This is a travel and pocket-sized device - the slender rectangular case is integral to the piece - when opened the scale unfolds upward, the case forming a base, and the interior lid contains two slots for holding separate counterweights, one is marked “SOVEREIGN” and weighs 8 grams, the same as a sovereign coin. The coin is placed onto the dangling plate on one side of the beam, and the other side has a plate for the counterweights. Such scales were a convenient solution to identifying counterfeit coins and most merchants had these in their shops during the 18th through 19th century. This scale folds and unfolds easily from the case and all pieces articulate as designed! Size of folded case: 6" L x 1" W x 0.75" H (15.2 cm x 2.5 cm x 1.9 cm); erect: 11.25" L x 1" W x 2.75" H (28.6 cm x 2.5 cm x 7 cm)

Provenance: private Southern California collection, California, USA, acquired through descent 2006; ex-private California collection, USA, before 2000

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#168136

Age and use expected surface abrasions and wear, otherwise intact and very good. Scale unfolds easily and all pieces articulate and function. Patina to wood and some brass areas.