Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
10th–11th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 3/16 in. (0.5 cm) Diam. 7/8 in. (2.2 cm) Wt. 0.1 oz. (2.8 g)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.256.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass coin weight, dating to the 10th–11th century, hails from the Islamic world and the era's precision craftsmanship Measuring just 7/8 inch in diameter and weighing a mere 0.1 ounce, it was designed for a practical purpose: verifying the weight of gold dinars or silver dirhams bustling trade hubs. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Department of Islamic Art. In medieval Islamic society, accurate weights and measures were vital for commerce across vast empires, from Baghdad to Cairo. These small objects ensured fair exchange ...