Gold weight
Asante merchants used these copper alloy weights as a standard for weighing gold when trading. While the weights of these objects were standardised, their shape varied, and could be simple or complex. This specific example highlights the age-old idea of recycling, and was last used as a gold-weight in the 19th century. This is a machined brass screw that’s been taken from a broken piece of equipment.
Donor unknown.
L. 12 x W. 9 mm
Donor unknown.
L. 12 x W. 9 mm
Object Summary
- Accession Loan No.
- 68/1994/53
- Category
- Ethnography
- Collection Class
- Currency
- Collection Area Region
- W
- Material
- copper alloy (cast)
- Common Name
- gold weight
- Simple Name
- weight
- Production County
- South Ghana
- Production Country
- Ghana
- Production Year Low
- 1400
- Production Year High
- 1900