Weights for weighing Coins

If the question of your correspondent, who wishes to know at what period weights were introduced {523}for weighing coins, is intended to have a general reference, he will find many passages alluding to the practice amongst the ancient Romans, who manufactured balances of various kinds for that purpose: one for gold (*statera auraria*, Varro *Ap. Non.*, p. 455., ed. Mercer.; Cic. *Or.* ii. 38.); another for silver (Varro *De Vit. P.R.* lib. ii.); and another for small pieces of money (*trutina momentana pro parva modicaque pecunia.* Isidor. *Orig.*, xvi. 25. 4.). The mint is represented on the…