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Early Islamic Caliphate / Umayyad Countermarked Polyhedral Bronze Weight (20.97g — c. 7th–9th Century AD)
Authenticity & Guarantee
Item Specifications & Exact Dimensions
Object: Cast Bronze Polyhedral Commercial Scale Weight with Official Kufic Countermark
Culture / Period: Early Islamic Caliphate (Umayyad to Early Abbasid Era) / Byzantine Transition
Date Range: Circa 7th Century AD – 9th Century AD (c. 650 – 850 AD)
Mass / Exact Weight: 20.97 grams (calibrated to the early Islamic 5-Mithqal / Dinar trade standard)
Material: Cast Bronze (Copper Alloy)
Form & Architecture: Multi-faceted polyhedral disc body covered across its sides with ring-and-dot (oculus) stamped facets; upper flat face features an incised Kufic Arabic script countermark ('Adl / "Just"); opposing flat face features a deep square administrative countermark seal punch re-certifying the weight
Condition: Exceptional, complete ancient condition. Crisp polyhedral geometry, fully legible Kufic script countermark and square validation punch, preserved under an authentic dark olive-charcoal bronze patina with pale sandy-cream burial encrustations highlighting the circle stamps. Free of modern restoration or tooling.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT & THE ISLAMIC COUNTERMARK
What is the Countermark?
The mark on the top face is an official early Kufic Arabic countermark (reading 'Adl - عدل, meaning "Just" / "Legal Weight"), paired with a square administrative seal punch on the reverse.
During the late 7th century AD—specifically under the monetary and administrative reforms of Umayyad Caliph Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (c. 695–700 AD)—the expanding Islamic Caliphate overhauled the economy of the former Byzantine Levant. Rather than discarding existing high-quality Byzantine bronze weights, Umayyad treasury officials inspected, adjusted, and countermarked them with Kufic script ('Adl or Lillah) and square validation stamps.
Metrological Standard (20.97g = 5 Mithqals / Dinars)
At 20.97 grams, this piece was calibrated to match 5 Islamic Mithqals (canonical gold Dinar standard of ~4.25g per unit). The Kufic countermark served as a state-guaranteed seal of approval, informing merchants across Damascus, Jerusalem, and Aleppo that the weight was verified and legal for commercial transactions under Caliphate law.
Typological Analysis & Exact Classification
Comparable Archaeological Examples & Museum Accession Numbers
British Museum (Accession No. 1980,1202.12): Umayyad bronze weight with Kufic 'Adl ("Just") countermark punch.
Ashmolean Museum (Oxford, Islamic Metrology Collection No. ISL.442): Early Caliphate bronze polyhedral weight re-certified with Kufic script stamp.
David Collection (Copenhagen, Inv. No. 31/1998): 8th-century Umayyad/Abbasid countermarked trade weight.
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