Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
11th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 1/4 in. (0.6 cm) Diam. 1 3/16 in. (3 cm) Wt. 0.2 oz. (5.7 g)
Classification
Glass
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.256.71
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass coin weight, dating to the 11th century, hails from the Islamic world and exemplifies the precision craftsmanship of the era. Measuring just 1/4 inch high and 1 3/16 inches in, it weighs a mere 0.2 ounces—ly suited for verifying the authenticity and value of gold dinars or silver dirhams bustling trade hubs like Baghdad or Cairo. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Art department. In medieval Islamic society, accurate weights and measures were not just practical but a religious imperative, rooted in Quranic principles o...