Weights and Values

Richard II and the English Royal Treasure: Inventory. Originally published by Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge, 2012.

Citation:

'Weights and Values', in Richard II and the English Royal Treasure: Inventory, (Woodbridge, 2012) pp. xvi. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/inventory-ric-ii-treasure/xvi [accessed 15 May 2024].

Two systems were used in R for weighing precious metals, Tower weight and Troy weight. Tower weight was calculated in nobles. The noble, regarded as being 1000 fine and weighing 108g., was worth 80d. (6s. 8d.), that is ⅓ of a pound sterling. Tower weights in R are often expressed as marks (2 nobles), i.e. 13s. 4d., two thirds of a pound sterling in money.

The Troy lb. of 12 oz. = 5760 grains = 374.4 g. In this system the mark represented 8 oz., two thirds of a pound in weight


Table of Troy weights
1 Troy pound (lb.) =	12 oz.
1 mark (m.) =	8 oz.
1 ounce (oz.) =	20 pennyweights (dt.)
⁷/8 oz. =	17 ½ e. = iij quarters (qu.) dimidie (di.)
¾ oz. =	15 e. = iij qu.
⁵/8 oz. =	12 ½ e. = di. di. qu.
½ oz. =	10 e.=di.
³/8 oz. =	7 ½ e. =qu. di.
¼ oz. =	5 e. = qu.
¹/8 oz. =	2 ½ e. = di. qu.

Gold was usually valued in R at £1 6s. 8d. per ounce, but sometimes at £1 3s. 4d. per ounce. Silver-gilt was valued at either 32s. or 30s. per pound (2s. 8d. or 2s. 6d. per ounce), and silver at either 28s. or 27s. per pound (2s. 4d. or 2s. 3d. per ounce). Gems and pearls were separately valued and aggregated with the sum calculated for the precious metal.