Historical information

Apothecaries weights were historically used by physicians and pharmacists for the assembling of medical recipes (20 grains = 1 scruple; 3 scruples = 1 dram (drachm); 8 drams = 1 troy ounce). The coin weights were used up until about the 1940s. This coin is a stater, a 2 gram coin. The symbol for the dram was the number 3 and the letters ‘ij’ are equivalent to the Roman numerals 11 meaning two. The coin has the date March 16, 1847, the date of the registration of the coin.

Significance

This coin has no known local provenance but a two-dram coin such as this would have been used by doctors and pharmacists in the Warrnambool district from the 1840s to the 1940s approximately. It will be useful for display.

Physical description

This brass circular weight with raised engraving has an annulus of very small dots close to the rim on the obverse and reverse sides. The edge is smooth with a small chip .It is named a Stater

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse REGISTERED MARCH 16 1847 a CROWN
Reverse .TWO DRAMS 3 I j