Accession No

TEMP.00854


Description

Sovereign coin balance, with a flat, fluted base supporting a hinged balance arm with an integral weight at one end, stamped with a crown symbol, and extending into a flat arm on the other side, with disk-shaped holders for both a one sovereign and a half sovereign coin. The balance arm is inscribed over the hinged pivot with 'W. W. NORTON & Co'.


Place

Europe; British Isles


Period

?Post Medieval ?Modern ?19th century ?20th century


Source


Department

Arch


Reference Numbers

TEMP.00854


Cultural Affliation


Material

Metal; Copper alloy; Brass


Local Term


Measurements

22mm x 14mm x 99mm Weight 0.043kg


Events

Description (Inscription)
The balance arm is inscribed over the hinged pivot with 'W. W. NORTON & Co'. One coin holder is inscribed 'SOVEREIGN WARRANTED', and the other 'SOVEREIGN 1/2'.
Event Date
Author: David Kay


Context (Analysis)
Cf. a very similar sovereign balance in the collections of the University of Oxford History of Science Museum (1960-109), which is dated to c. 1900. As such, the Period field for this object has been filled as '?Post Medieval; ?Modern; ?19th century; ?20th century'.
Event Date 7/3/2019
Author: David Kay


Description (Physical description)
Sovereign coin balance, with a flat, fluted base supporting a hinged balance arm with an integral weight at one end, stamped with a crown symbol, and extending into a flat arm on the other side, with disk-shaped holders for both a one sovereign and a half sovereign coin. The balance arm is inscribed over the hinged pivot with 'W. W. NORTON & Co'.
Event Date 7/3/2019
Author: David Kay


FM:283165

Images (Click to view full size):