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Description: | An incomplete copper alloy trebuchet or tumbrel-type folding coin balance dating from 1300-1450AD. The balance arm, the hinge and the supporting arm remain; the hinge is still operational. The arm with the pan for the coin has broken away in antiquity and is missing. The balance arm is of rectangular section with a broad groove in the underside to accommodate the supporting arm when the balance is closed. The upper corners of the balance arm are slightly bevelled and the arm tapers to a decorative, zoomorphic terminal in the shape of a dog's head. Behind the dog's head is a single, zigzag groove down the centre of the balance arm, ending in a raised, plain, square of metal which has a lozenge shaped cut out in each of the two outside edges. The supporting arm is also of rectangular section, tapering to a blunt point. It is undecorated. The tumbrel has a dark brown patina. In the closed position it is 63.7mm long, 9.5mm wide and 7.3mm thick. It weighs 16gm.An example of a similar apparatus, though not zoomorphic, is illustrated in Egan, 1998, The Medieval Household, figure 245. Zoomorphic examples can be found on the database at SWYOR-519247, LANCUM-A45957 and SWYOR-D082E0.When found, this tumbrel had an unidentified, copper alloy coin or coin weight lodged between the balance and supporting arms. See record SWYOR-A64EB0 for details. If found alone, the possible coin weight would probably have been identified as a Roman coin on the basis of shape, thickness and patination.While it is probable that this object and the tumbrel were lost at the same time, it is also possible that they were independent losses which became entangled during post deposition movement in the soil.
Original Image | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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