Islamic Bronze Weights From Egypt

Abstract

Few Islamic bronze weights are known from the literature. The late John Walker published in 1935, a flat, square bronze weight of six (mithqil), engraved by hand with the protocol of Hajjdj b. Ytisuf 1). As there was no date, Walker, and later Miles, when he discussed this issue 2), thought, that it was probably produced around 75 H. The weight has been clearly inspired by the so common Byzantine square bronze weights. There is no doubt about it being a coin weight, a multiple of the gold mithqil or dinar, and at the same time the earliest known example of an original Islamic bronze weight. Two other weights which may be contemporaneous, are the well known glass coin-weight of the Caliph 'Abdul-Malik in the Cabinet des Medailles in Paris 3), and 'Abdul-Malik's other extant glass sanj in the Syrian National Museum in Damascus 4). In 1939, George C. Miles described a Byzantine round disk weight of two ounces, validated for circulation in the Muslim empire by the Umayyid Caliph Walid I. (86-96 H.) 6). In 1962, yet another Byzantine bronze weight, also adapted for the use of Muslims by the Syrian official Bishr b. Marwan (ca. between 66 and 71 H.), has been published by George Miles 6).