Coin weights were made to correspond to the weights of particular coin denominations. They were most commonly made of brass or other copper alloy and were generally produced for high-value coins made of gold rather than silver. Their purpose was to check the weight of coin in circulation and ensure that coin received was of good quality. Normally they would correspond to the lowest weight at which the coin remained legal tender. They could be used to guard against clipped, worn or counterfeit coins and to check the standards of foreign coinage permitted in currency. Coin-weights or 'penny-poises' are mentioned in Statutes as early as 1205 during the reign of King John for use as a deterrent against the passing of light or clipped coins. No official coin-weights are known for the silver sterling penny and in fact all known coin-weights of English origin are for gold coins until the reign of Charles I (1625-49). The first weights that we recognise from documentary sources today are those for the gold Noble and its half and quarter dating from the 1420's. Early English coin-weights are round and uniface, and the design is usually based on the main design of the coin that it represents. From the beginning of the 16th century square coin-weights were used, still uniface until Henry VIII's reign, when the coin value in shillings (S) and pence (D) began to be placed on the reverse in Roman numerals.

Copper alloy, 4.49 grams; 14.22 mm. Circa 1604 - 1619 A.D. A bifacial weight, one side with IR BRI, and the reverse with the crowned mark of value XIs, 11 Shillings. Ref: Examples of this type of weight published in Lions, Ships and Angels page 13, Fig. XIsA. Good Fine/Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 4.49 grams; 14.22 mm. Circa 1604 - 1619 A.D. A bifacial weight, one side with IR BRI, and the reverse with the crowned mark of value XIs, 11 Shillings. Ref: Examples of this type of weight published in Lions, Ships and Angels page 13, Fig. XIsA. Good Fine/Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 6.23 grams; 16.17 mm. Circa 1612 - 1619 A.D. A rowell spur with lis and lions at the points as on the obverse of spur ryals, the reverse has the mark of value XVIS VID, Sixteen shillings and six pence, below a crown. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 38. Good Fine.

Copper alloy, 6.23 grams; 16.17 mm. Circa 1612 - 1619 A.D. A rowell spur with lis and lions at the points as on the obverse of spur ryals, the reverse has the mark of value XVIS VID, Sixteen shillings and six pence, below a crown. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 38. Good Fine.

Copper alloy, 8.30 grams; 18.27 mm. Circa 1619 - 1625 A.D. A square weight with an incuse circle depicting the laureate head of James I with a crown over XXs, twenty shillings. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 12. Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 8.30 grams; 18.27 mm. Circa 1619 - 1625 A.D. A square weight with an incuse circle depicting the laureate head of James I with a crown over XXs, twenty shillings. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 12. Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 4.09 grams; 16.59 mm. Circa 1612 - 1619 A.D. A round coin weight for weighing a Gold Angel after James I’s revaluation of coinage in 1612. The obverse depicts St. Michael spearing a dragon with IR MAG BRIT around. The reverse a crown surmounting XIs, eleven shillings. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 13. Very Fine condition.

Copper alloy, 4.09 grams; 16.59 mm. Circa 1612 - 1619 A.D. A round coin weight for weighing a Gold Angel after James I’s revaluation of coinage in 1612. The obverse depicts St. Michael spearing a dragon with IR MAG BRIT around. The reverse a crown surmounting XIs, eleven shillings. Ref: This type of weight illustrated in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 13. Very Fine condition.

Copper alloy, 4.50 grams; 17.49 mm. Circa 1685 - 1686 A.D. A round weight with the 2nd bust of James II right with IACOBVS II REX, on the reverse is a crowned surmounting XIs, eleven shillings, the equivalent to a double crown. Ref: This type of weight discussed in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 28, 69. Very Fine condition.

Copper alloy, 4.50 grams; 17.49 mm. Circa 1685 - 1686 A.D. A round weight with the 2nd bust of James II right with IACOBVS II REX, on the reverse is a crowned surmounting XIs, eleven shillings, the equivalent to a double crown. Ref: This type of weight discussed in Lions, Ships and Angels, page 28, 69. Very Fine condition.

Copper alloy, 1.46 grams; 10.69 mm. Late 17th Century A.D. A rectangular weight with a passant lion, mark of London with a single annulet denoting one penny. Ref: Punched penny weights are discussed on pages 19 - 21 of Bullion Weights an Outline Catalogue by Norman Biggs. Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 1.46 grams; 10.69 mm. Late 17th Century A.D. A rectangular weight with a passant lion, mark of London with a single annulet denoting one penny. Ref: Punched penny weights are discussed on pages 19 - 21 of Bullion Weights an Outline Catalogue by Norman Biggs. Very Fine.

Copper alloy, 3.45 grams; 15.82 mm. Circa late 15th Century A.D. A coin weight for a gold ryal, on the obverse of the weight is a depiction of the king in a ship with a rose below indicating the rose noble/ryal. Ref: Similar example in lion's, ships and angels page 19. Fine.

Copper alloy, 3.45 grams; 15.82 mm. Circa late 15th Century A.D. A coin weight for a gold ryal, on the obverse of the weight is a depiction of the king in a ship with a rose below indicating the rose noble/ryal. Ref: Similar example in lion's, ships and angels page 19. Fine.