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Start Over Collector Andrew B. Smith Culture or time period Twi peoples
Hearst Museum object titled Gold weights, accession number 5-11412, described as Abrammo (weight), Ghana, Accra; purchased, origin uncertain. July 20,1972. 5-11412, acc no. 2870, file code 7.3. Collector: Andrew B. Smith. Donor: Andrew B. Smith. Materials, techniques: brass, lost wax cast. Context of use: In the days when gold dust was the currency of the Gold Coast, such weights served to measure out quantities of gold; made and used by each dealer for himself. They did not bear marks of denomination, nor were they checked by officials. Description: Goldweight in the form of a square brass slug ornamented with an X on the top side; 11x12mm.; 7.99 gm. corresponding to namfisuru on the Asante scale. Made by: most gold-dealers made their own weights. Role in Trade: served both to ascertain quantities of gold and to deceive customers if possible. Reference: Brigitte Menzel: Goldgewichte aus Ghana Veroffentlichungen des Mus. fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Neue Folge 12; 1968.
Hearst Museum object titled Gold weights, accession number 5-11414, described as Abrammo (weight), Ghana, Accra; purchased, origin uncertain. July 20,1972. 5-11414, acc no. 2870, file code 7.3. Collector: Andrew B. Smith. Donor: Andrew B. Smith. Materials, techniques: brass, lost wax cast. Context of use: In the days when gold dust was the currency of the Gold Coast, such weights served to measure out quantities of gold; made and used by each dealer for himself. They did not bear marks of denomination, nor were they checked by officials. Description: Goldweight in the form of a pair of bellows (?); 27 mm. l., 6.20 gm. corresponding to nsanu on the Asante scale. Made by: most gold-dealers made their own weights. Role in Trade: served both to ascertain quantities of gold and to deceive customers if possible. Reference: Brigitte Menzel: Goldgewichte aus Ghana Veroffentlichungen des Mus. fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Neue Folge 12; 1968.
Hearst Museum object titled Gold weights, accession number 5-11410, described as Abrammo (weight), Ghana, Accra; purchased, origin uncertain. July 20,1972. 5-11410, acc no. 2870, file code 7.3. Collector: Andrew B. Smith. Donor: Andrew B. Smith. Materials, techniques: brass, lost wax cast. Context of use: In the days when gold dust was the currency of the Gold Coast, such weights served to measure out quantities of gold; made and used by each dealer for himself. They did not bear marks of denomination, nor were they checked by officials. Description: Goldweight in the form of a small rectangular brass bar ornamented with five circles on top; 34 mm. l., 7.38 gm., an in-between weight half-way between dwoasuru and namfisuru in the Asante scale. Made by: most gold-dealers made their own weights. Role in Trade: served both to ascertain quantities of gold and to deceive customers if possible. Reference: Brigitte Menzel: Goldgewichte aus Ghana Veroffentlichungen des Mus. fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Neue Folge 12; 1968.
Hearst Museum object titled Gold weights, accession number 5-11413, described as Abrammo (weight), Ghana, Accra; purchased, origin uncertain. July 20,1972. 5-11413, acc no. 2870, file code 7.3. Collector: Andrew B. Smith. Donor: Andrew B. Smith. Materials, techniques: brass, lost wax cast. Context of use: In the days when gold dust was the currency of the Gold Coast, such weights served to measure out quantities of gold; made and used by each dealer for himself. They did not bear marks of denomination, nor were they checked by officials. Description: Goldweight in the form of a flintlock pistol (?); 19 mm. l., 4.00 gm. corresponding to agyiratwe on the Asante scale. Made by: most gold-dealers made their own weights. Role in Trade: served both to ascertain quantities of gold and to deceive customers if possible. Reference: Brigitte Menzel: Goldgewichte aus Ghana Veroffentlichungen des Mus. fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Neue Folge 12; 1968.
Hearst Museum object titled Gold weights, accession number 5-11411, described as Abrammo (weight), Ghana, Accra; purchased, origin uncertain. July 20,1972. 5-11411, acc no. 2870, file code 7.3. Collector: Andrew B. Smith. Donor: Andrew B. Smith. Materials, techniques: brass, lost wax cast. Context of use: In the days when gold dust was the currency of the Gold Coast, such weights served to measure out quantities of gold; made and used by each dealer for himself. They did not bear marks of denomination, nor were they checked by officials. Description: Goldweight in the form of a small rectangular brass bar ornamented with five circles on top; 29 mm. l., 4.44 gm., corresponding to nsuansa on the Asante scale. Made by: most gold-dealers made their own weights. Role in Trade: served both to ascertain quantities of gold and to deceive customers if possible. Reference: Brigitte Menzel: Goldgewichte aus Ghana Veroffentlichungen des Mus. fur Volkerkunde Berlin, Neue Folge 12; 1968.

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