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Ancient Judaean / Phoenician Two-Shekel Lead Barrel Weight, Circa 1st Century BC – 1st Century AD. Certified Authentic Ancient Artifact
Item: 21
Culture: Judaean / Second Temple Period
Date: Circa 100 BC – 70 AD
Material: Lead
Type: Barrel-Shaped Trade Weight (Two-Shekel Standard)
Weight: 25.34 grams
Provenance: Private collection; acquired by me in 2024
Description:
A substantial and historically significant ancient lead weight, weighing 25.34 grams, perfectly corresponding to the Two-Shekel (Double Shekel) standard of the Second Temple period. In the Judaean and Phoenician economic systems, the common shekel fluctuated between 11.4 and 13 grams; at 25.34g, this artifact represents a precision-cast double unit used for significant commercial transactions in the markets of Jerusalem and the surrounding Levant.
The weight features a classic barrel or "cylindrical" form—tapering slightly at the ends to prevent rolling and allow for easy stacking during the weighing of goods. Lead was the preferred medium for these weights as it could be easily trimmed or adjusted by municipal authorities to match the official "Sanctuary Shekel" standards.
Authentication Notes (Ancient Surface and Tool Assessment):
Crystallized Lead Carbonate Patina: The surface is encased in a thick, stable, and multi-toned "bone-white" patina. This mineralization is a result of the lead's long-term chemical reaction with the carbonate-rich soils of the Judaean highlands, a process that takes nearly two millennia to reach this depth.
Shekel Standard Mass: The weight of 25.34g is a critical diagnostic. While many "tourist" copies are cast to arbitrary weights, this specimen aligns with the known archaeological distribution of heavy Judaean shekels found in excavations such as the City of David.
Manual Casting Morphology: The side profile shows the subtle irregularities and "pouring lips" characteristic of ancient two-part mold casting. The ends show manual smoothing where the "sprue" (excess lead) was removed by the ancient smith.
Surface Pitting & Root Marks: Tiny, microscopic pits and fossilized "root marks" are visible in the patina, confirming the item remained undisturbed in its find-site for a vast period of time.
Cultural and Artistic Context:
In the First and Second Temple periods, the "Shekel" was both a unit of weight and a religious requirement for the Temple Tax. Merchants carried sets of these weights in small leather pouches. The use of a Two-Shekel weight allowed for faster processing of larger trade volumes of silver, incense, or high-value grains. The barrel shape itself is a distinct evolution from earlier "dome" weights, reflecting the high-volume, standardized trade of the Roman-era Levant.
Museum Parallels:
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem (Lead and stone shekel weights from the Second Temple period).
Tower of David Museum, Jerusalem (Market weights from the First Century excavations).
The British Museum, 1968,0626.17 (Ancient Near Eastern commercial weights).
Academic References:
Hendin, D., Guide to Biblical Coins, Section: Ancient Weights and Measures, p. 542 (Defining the 11.4g–13g shekel range).
Kletter, R., Economic Keystones: The Weight System of the Kingdom of Judah, Para. 90–95.
Ben-David, A., Palestine under the Romans, Chapter: Metrology and the Shekel Standard.
Condition:
Superb archaeological condition. The lead is solid and the weight is chemically stable. The ancient patina is exceptionally well-developed and provides a beautiful, "antique" white finish. Guaranteed authentic.
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