Units of Measurement
- Troy pound (troy)
The troy pound (troy) is 5,760 grains (≈ 373.24 g, 12 oz t), while an avoirdupois pound is ≈21.53% heavier at 7,000 grains (≈ 453.59 g).
- Troy ounce (oz t)
One troy ounce (oz t) is equal to 31.1034768 grams. Also equal to 1.09714286 avoirdupois ounces, exactly 192/175, or about 10% larger.
- Pennyweight (dwt)
The pennyweight symbol is dwt. There are 24 grains in 1 dwt, and 20 dwt in one troy ounce. Because there were 12 troy ounces in the old troy pound, there would have been 240 pennyweights to the pound—the basis of the fact that the old British pound (currency) contained 240 pence. (However, prior to 1526, English pound sterling was based on the tower pound, which is 15⁄16 of a troy pound.) The d in dwt stands for denarius, the ancient Roman coin, referred to in the New Testament, that equates loosely to a penny. The symbol d for penny can be recognized in the old-style notation for British pennies, in which a quantity of money expressed in pounds, shillings, and pence was indicated using the symbols £, s, and d, respectively. For example, £6.11s.8d indicated six pounds, eleven shillings, and eight pence.
- Troy grain
- Mint Weights
Mint weights, also known as moneyers' weights were legalised by Act of Parliament dated 17 July 1649 entitled An Act touching the monies and coins of England. A grain is 20 mites, a mite is 24 droits, a droit is 20 perits, a perit is 24 blanks.
Read more about this topic: Troy Weight
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