**Originally Listed At $500**

Near East, Islamic culture, Umayyad to Abbasid Caliphate, ca. 661 to 1258 CE. A dazzling coin weight, made from blue-green hued glass with gorgeous rainbow iridescence throughout. The coin weight is impressed with a square stamp and 3 lines of Arabic script - indicating it was likely made by a square silver dirham coin. Because coins were not always minted according to standard weight and purity levels, coin weights were used to measure the appropriate sum of money required for a purchase, regardless of the number of actual metal coins. Different sets of weights were used for gold, silver, and copper coins. Glass was a preferable medium for these weights, since they could be made relatively easily and any chips or alterations were immediately visible to the naked eye. Size: 1.5" L x 1.1" W (3.8 cm x 2.8 cm); weight: 7.8 grams

For a similar glass coin weight, please see OA+.4242 at the British Museum.

Provenance: private Charlotte, North Carolina, USA collection; ex-California, USA collection, prior to 2004

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#179272

Chipping to small area of periphery and perforation near edge of stamped area. Expected nicks and abrasions commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with beautiful iridescence throughout.