8 ms·
A coin measurer is still my goto explanation. Especially with most models having an inset for the coin to rest on / fit in. The hole itself is then just to quic
by Macuyiko 1y ago
A coin measurer is still my goto explanation. Especially with most models having an inset for the coin to rest on / fit in. The hole itself is then just to quickly/easily get the coin out again with your finger.
With so many different coin sizes and types in the empire, I think this makes most sense.
Wikipedia also mentions this:
> Several dodecahedra were found in coin hoards, suggesting either that their owners considered them valuable objects, or that their use was connected with coins — as, for example, for easily checking coins fit a certain diameter and were not clipped.
- meindnoch 1y agoIf you look at ancient coins, you'll see that they didn't have identical sizes. They were minted from a standard weight of metal, but the manual minting tools of the time couldn't guarantee precise thickness and shape like we have today with machine-made coins. So a dodecahedron with precisely cut circular holes is not a good way to check your coins.
- tengwar2 1y agoAlso if they did have identical sizes and there was a need to measure those sizes, we would expect a lot of much simpler devices to measure them - say a flat piece of metal with differently sized holes. Fancy versions like the dodecahedron might exist, but they would be outnumbered by the utilitarian devices.