DESCRIPTION:

This is a fine and very early coin scale from the last quarter of the eighteenth century. This scale has a beam of polished steel, with two brass pans each attached by three green cords. The suspension ring has a bright yellow tassle attached to the top . It comes in its original fishskin over wood case, lined on the bottom in green velour. The inside of the lid is lined with padding covered with green silk. The original trade label remains on the inside of the lid. Two original circular weights fit into compartments of the case. A square compartment on the other side of the case is empty.

HISTORY

The firm of Freeman & New were scale makers to the English Mint, and were known to be in business in the early 1780's through at least 1790. Other examples by them are known. A Freeman was a respected scalemaker known in 1737 and a report from the house of commons mentions his father was also a scale maker, so the Freemans were scale-makers for generations.