Byzantine Weights, Circa 4th-6th century. Weight (Orichalcum, 17x18 mm, 16.89 g), a square coin weight with plain edges. Large Chi-Rho and B in silver inlay. Rev. Plain. Bendall -. MAH -. Pera -, cf. 461 (a weight of 8.20 g with a Chi-Rho only). A very interesting and carefully produced early Christian weight. Extremely fine.




This is an odd piece, as it nearly equals the weight of 4 solidi but carries the number 'B' = 2 alongside the Chi-Rho on the obverse. It could have served as a weight of two so-called 'double maiorinae' of one of the successors of Julian II in the later 360s and early 370s, but the fabric looks slighty later.