Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
11th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 1/8 in. (0.3 cm) W. 11/16 in. (1.7 cm) D. 5/8 in. (1.6 cma) Wt. 0.06 oz. (1.7 g)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.256.67
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass coin weight, dating to the 11th century, exemplifies the precision craftsmanship of the Islamic world. Measuring just 1/8 inch high and weighing a mere 0.06, it was designed for verifying the weight of gold coins like the dinar, ensuring fair trade in bustling medieval markets from North Africa to Central Asia. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Islamic Art departmentRogers Fund, 1908), it reflects the era's advanced metrology—standardized systems of weights and measures that underpinned a thriving economy. In the Islamic Golden Age, such tools were vital for commerce...