Gold weights

Museum number:
5-11410
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050011410
Description:
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.
Collection place:
Accra, Ghana
Verbatim coll. place:
Ghana; Accra; purchased
Culture or time period:
Ashanti
Collector:
Andrew B. Smith
Collection date:
July 20,1972
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Gold-weights
Function:
7.3 Weights, Measures, and Computing Devices
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Images:
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.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with 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.

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