84 MARK wOOLMER
that sellers used the correct weights and measures, there were ten metronomoi or
‘Controllers of Measures.’^78 The Aristotelian Constitution of the Athenians (51.2)
provides a general overview of the roles and duties of the metronomoi recording
that they were specifically charged with ensuring the weights and measures
used by retailers and wholesalers. Another source that documents Athenian
concern with ensuring the accuracy of weights and measures is a law dating
to the second century BCE (IG II^2 1013). Although not dating to the Classical
period, Harris has suggested that the roles and duties of the metronomoi were
unlikely to have changed much over time – aside from taking into account
modifications and changes in coinage standards – so the regulations listed in
the inscription are likely to be very similar to those of the fifth and fourth
centuries BCE.^79 The magistrates responsible for implementing this law were
to make standard weights and measures for wet and dry goods and to com-
pel all those who buy and sell to use them, including sellers in the agora, in
workshops, in retail shops, and in wine shops and storehouses. If a merchant
were found to be using containers that were smaller than the required size, the
magistrate was instructed to confiscate the goods and destroy the container.
Moreover, to ensure that the official weights and measures were implemented
and maintained, the law instructs Diodorus, the son of Theophilus, from the
deme of Halieus to hand them over to three public slaves stationed at various
places. These slaves would be charged with ensuring the official weights and
measures were available to any magistrates who request them and were not
tampered with. The final clause in the law makes those who commit offenses
in regard to these weights and measures subject to harsh penalties. There were
also substantial fines for any magistrate who did not enforce the law as pre-
scribed. Similar methods were also used to ensure the integrity of Athenian
coinage.^80 The law of Nicophon passed in 375/4 BCE provides detailed infor-
mation about Athenian methods for regulating the purity and weight of their
silver coinage.^81 Responsibility for enforcing the regulations fell to the doki-
mastai (testers), two publicly owned slaves, one of whom operated in the agora
and the other in the Piraeus. The measure, which was primarily intended to
safeguard the value of Athenian minted owls, also protected the property rights
of traders – citizen and noncitizen alike – in possession of high purity, imita-
tion coins (i.e., coins comparable in weight and purity to Athenian owls but
minted elsewhere). Rather than confiscate such coins, as might be expected,
those that were deemed of acceptable quality appear to have been returned to
their owner.^82 Moreover, this legislation granted the universal right to bring
formal charges against anyone who violated the law by refusing to accept coins
that had been officially approved. Intentionally or otherwise, this legislation
also reduced transaction costs by providing increased legal protection and by
codifying behavior.^83 The clause stipulating the acceptance of approved coins