A HAEMATITE SHEKEL WEIGHT INSCRIBED 'AGRIPPAS" IN HEBREW, 1ST CENTURY AD

A Babylonian barrel shaped weight which has been engraved with the word 'Agrippas' in square Hebrew. This must refer to Herod Agrippa the last Jewish King of Judaea. The purpose of this object would have been to show that the weight standards imposed by the authorities would have had Royal sanction. As such this object is a fascinating survival and example of an object of great antiquity being re-used at much later date by an official authority. It originally came from the collection of the notable collector, Samuel Menachem Raffaeloff of London.
Length: 2.7 cm.
Weight: 7.8 g.