Coin Weight
Unknown Artist
9th–10th century
Medium
Glass
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
Rogers Fund, 1908
Accession Number
08.256.16
Art Historical Context
This delicate glass coin weight, dating to the 9th–10th century exemplifies the precision craftsmanship of the Islamic world during the Abbasid era. Measuring just 1 inch in diameter and a mere 0.2 ounces, it was designed to verify the standard weight of gold dinars silver dirhams in bustling trade hubs like Baghdad or Cairo. Such tools ensured fair commerce across vast empires, reflecting the Islamic emphasis on accurate measures as a religious and economic imperative. Crafted from glass—a medium at which Islamic artisans excelled through innovative molding and blowing techniques—this object...