Byzantine Three-Ounce Weight with Imperial Busts of Justin II, Sophia and Justinian(?) (1)

Byzantine Three-Ounce Weight with Imperial Busts of Justin II, Sophia and Justinian(?) (1)

16 March 575 CE (early Byzantine), Mixed copper alloy, Cast, lost-wax process
h. 4 x w. 4 x d. 0.4 cm (1 9/16 x 1 9/16 x 3/16 in.)
78.46 g
Harvard Art Museum

Technical Observations: The patina is dark green with spots of red. White accretions are also present in the inscribed lines. All edges are smooth from handling. The incised lines have been roughly cleaned, making it difficult to see the nature of the surfaces and ascertain how the lines were made. Gouges at the back may be from finishing the back surface or from use.

The object was probably cast from a directly formed wax model. The inscribed lines and decoration were probably made in the wax model, but the object is not in good enough condition to be sure.


Henry Lie (submitted 2005)

inscription: in Greek, in five lines:
ΓΟ / Γ [three ounces]
ΕΠΙ ΤΟV ΠΑΝΕV/ΦΗΜΟV ΚΑΙ ΕVΦ/VΟϹΤΑΤΟV ϹΤΡΑΤ/ΗΛΑΤΟV ΙΟVΛΙΑΝOV ΦΑΜΕΝW ΘΚ. ΙΝΔ Η.
[Translation: in the time of the wholly blessed and best disposed (of men) Iulianos, stratelates, on the twentieth of Phamenoth, eighth indiction.]
[Note that the omicron and upsilon at the end of the fourth line are in ligature.]

https://iiif.harvardartmuseums.org/manifests/object/191384