Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
probably 11th–12th century
Medium
Glass; stamped
Dimensions
H. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm) Diam. 1 in. (2.5 cm) Wt. 0.2 oz. (5.7 g)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889
Accession Number
89.2.238
Tags
Art Historical Context
This petite glass coin weight, dating to the 11th–12th, offers a glimpse into the meticulous world of medieval Islamic commerce. Crafted in the Islamic world—likely from regions like Egypt or Syria, where such tools were essential for trade—this disc-shaped object measures just 1 inch in diameter and weighs a mere 0.2 ounces. Its stamped surface would have borne inscriptions or designs indicating precise weight standards, ensuring the authenticity and value of gold dinars in bustling markets from Baghdad to Cordoba. Glass was an ideal medium for these weights due to its transparency, allowing...