Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
13th–16th century
Medium
Glass
Dimensions
H. 1/4 in. (0.6 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
08.256.36
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass coin weight, dating from the 13th to 16th century, hails from the Islamic world and exemplifies the ingenuity of medieval commerce. Measuring just 7/8 inch in diameter and weighing a mere 0.1 ounce, it was crafted to verify the precise mass of gold coins like the dinar, ensuring fair trade bustling markets from Cairo to Baghdad. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 8, it now resides in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Islamic Art department a testament to the era's emphasis on standardized measures. Glass was a prized medium in Islamic craftsmanship, with artisans mastering mo...