Coin Scale c1780 by Thomas Croome

Scale with steel beam with swan neck terminals in a plain fruitwood box 5½ in x 2¾ in.

 

These were made by Thomas Croome around 1780 when in Cow Lane, West Smithfield.

 

These would be carried by a person who wanted to make sure that any gold or silver coin that he or she received was the correct weight.  Why was this important?  In the 18th and 19th centuries (and long before that) it ws very common for fraudsters to try to cheat the public by shaving pieces of precious metal off coins.  Accurate weights were therefore very important.

 

The box contains the following weights:

 

Guinea , S 18 incuse rev. similar.

George III Half Guinea, obv New Standard rev. DWT. GRA 2  16.

George III Half Guinea , Geo III S D 10 . 5  rev. Dwt. Gr.  2 : 16 1772 [W1998O].