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18th Century Amsterdam Coin Balance
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40030
18th Century Amsterdam Coin Balance:
Dutch, ca. 1749. Signed Paulus Dorsman on the inner lid of the case. The beautiful polychrome trade label depicts Mercury and Neptune flanking a cartouche with the inscription ”Deze Gewigten maakt, en verkoopt, Paulus Dorsman, Essajeur, en Mr. Balansemaker, tot, Amsterdam.” Translation is: “This person Paul Dorsman makes and sells Essajeur and Mr. Balancemaker of Amsterdam.” The word "essajeur" does not translate well. It could be a unique term for "coin balance." Above the cartouche, a coat of arms with crown, held by Griffins. Paulus Dorsman [Geboren (born) 1708 and overleden (died) 1764] was a Dutch coin weight maker (muntgewichtmaker)(1), who lived and worked in Amsterdam producing fine scales and weights in the first half of the 18th century.
The coin balance and accompanying 25 weights are housed in a sarcophagus form, fruitwood case which measures 13.7 cm long, 6.8 cm wide and 3.5 cm high. It has period, looped brass wire hinges and a single, ornate, cast bronze “C” hook, which attaches at the top of the case. The top of the case is embossed with foliate decorations and symmetrical grape clusters consisting of seven fused circles.
The interior reveals fitted compartments for the weights, a finely embellished iron beam balance, and two brass balance pans. One of the brass balance pans is of triangular form, and the other is of circular form with mastersign stamp mark in the center. There is an integral compartment lid which covers a small recess containing 4 fractional weights. The fractional weights are of sheet brass and marked by symmetrical, iterative, blunt stamp marks; i.e. 2, 4, 5 and 6 stamps each (Fig. 1.). The compartment lid is removable from the side in a dovetail slot, and held in place by an iron pin with a brass top. Removal of the pin (Lock) also frees a removeable, lower side drawer (12.4 X 4.6 cm) containing 10 weight compartments. Most of the square mortised weight recesses accommodate two weights. The lower with half the weight of the upper, and marked on the case frame in ink, “en ½” of the corresponding currency denomination.
Dutch, ca. 1749. Signed Paulus Dorsman on the inner lid of the case. The beautiful polychrome trade label depicts Mercury and Neptune flanking a cartouche with the inscription ”Deze Gewigten maakt, en verkoopt, Paulus Dorsman, Essajeur, en Mr. Balansemaker, tot, Amsterdam.” Translation is: “This person Paul Dorsman makes and sells Essajeur and Mr. Balancemaker of Amsterdam.” The word "essajeur" does not translate well. It could be a unique term for "coin balance." Above the cartouche, a coat of arms with crown, held by Griffins. Paulus Dorsman [Geboren (born) 1708 and overleden (died) 1764] was a Dutch coin weight maker (muntgewichtmaker)(1), who lived and worked in Amsterdam producing fine scales and weights in the first half of the 18th century.
The coin balance and accompanying 25 weights are housed in a sarcophagus form, fruitwood case which measures 13.7 cm long, 6.8 cm wide and 3.5 cm high. It has period, looped brass wire hinges and a single, ornate, cast bronze “C” hook, which attaches at the top of the case. The top of the case is embossed with foliate decorations and symmetrical grape clusters consisting of seven fused circles.
The interior reveals fitted compartments for the weights, a finely embellished iron beam balance, and two brass balance pans. One of the brass balance pans is of triangular form, and the other is of circular form with mastersign stamp mark in the center. There is an integral compartment lid which covers a small recess containing 4 fractional weights. The fractional weights are of sheet brass and marked by symmetrical, iterative, blunt stamp marks; i.e. 2, 4, 5 and 6 stamps each (Fig. 1.). The compartment lid is removable from the side in a dovetail slot, and held in place by an iron pin with a brass top. Removal of the pin (Lock) also frees a removeable, lower side drawer (12.4 X 4.6 cm) containing 10 weight compartments. Most of the square mortised weight recesses accommodate two weights. The lower with half the weight of the upper, and marked on the case frame in ink, “en ½” of the corresponding currency denomination.
Fig. 1: Fractional weight values.
Weight descriptions include standardized weights for: 1) Ducaton: 2) Fransecroon French d’ors. Weight of 3.418 g; en ½ weight is 1.70 g of fine gold. 3) Pistoolen (Pistole) A former gold coin of Spain equivalent to two Escudos, or “double escudos”; i.e. “doubloon”. The name also describes any former gold coin of Europe such as the Louis d’or. One Pistoolen was the equivalent of 6.76 g of .92 (22 caret gold); values taken from a 1728 coin. 4) Angelot A French gold coin in use during the Louis XI era. The coins depict the Angel St. Michael. Weight is 5.13 g; en ½ weight is 2.566 g of fine gold. 5) Gini (English Guinea of the William and Mary period; i.e. 1689-1694) which approximated 0.25 oz (8.26 g) of gold, equivalent to 1 English Pound at the time. The coins depict the vignettes of William & Mary similar to that on the Guinea. The Guinea was in use in England from 1663-1814. 6) Rozenob Weight is 7.68 g; en ½ weight is 3.84 g of fine gold. 7) Kanolus Weight is 9.077 g; en ½ weight is 4.54 g of fine gold. Condition: Very fine throughout, noting re-stringing in green rope work. A rare coin balance with a complete and extensive selection of standardized weights. Each stamped with the crown mark of the early 18th century Dutch Republic. The case is in excellent condition with no marks, shrinkage splits, or warping. Some representative coins weighed by this balance: i. Spanish Gold Doubloons: (Double Escudo or “doubloon”. Used between 1598-1740.) Weight was 6.766 g from 1728, of 0.92 fine gold (22 Carat Gold).ii. A Louis d’or coin of the Louis XV era (1727).iii. A Guinea of the William & Mary period (1689-1694; Weight was 8.5 g; 25-26 mm Dia.).iv. Netherlands Gold Ducat 1724 (Utrecht). Bibliography: 1. For a listing of important Dutch coin weight makers please see: [wf4.nl/muntgewichtmakers.htm]. 2. Christies, Los Angeles: "Scientific and Engineering Works of Art, Medical Instruments and Models" Lot: 18; Tuesday 17 OCT 2000. 3. Kisch, Bruno (1965) Scales and Weights; Yale University Press; [65-12545].
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