Lot 200
A rare Queen Anne 'Union' 8lb weight
Auction: 19 August 2013 at 15:00 BST
Description
the brass weight of circular outline with sunken centre, engraved with crown above 'PRIMO MAII, AR, ANo Doni 1707, A REGNI VI, VIII AUER' , the rim inscribed 'D.LK' with various weights and measures marks struck throughout
Dimensions
14cm diameter, 3.2cm high
Footnote
Notes:
The act of Union in 1707 demanded many changes within Scotland and this is seen not only in currency and minting of coins, but also weights and measures; attempting to bring Scotland into line with the English systems and standards. There had been many previous attempts to standardise weights and measures within Scotland and England before but it would not be until 1707 when this effort was made. However it did not take hold completely until the 1824 act and the issue of Imperial weights in 1826 this would formally and almost finally bring Scottish weights and measures into line with England.
This weight would originally have formed part of stacking set (not dis similar to those commonplace on shop keepers counters). In 1707 it is recorded that 21 sets were commissioned however only parts of 14 sets are still known to survive, mainly still residing within council and museum collections. These sets would have represented the towns official weights which all other merchants weights would have had to be tested against to be sure of honest dealings.