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  • Trade weights

     

    The basic traditional unit of weight, the pound, originated as a Roman unit and was used throughout the Roman Empire. The Roman pound was divided into 12 ounces, but many European merchants preferred to use a larger pound of 16 ounces, perhaps because a 16-ounce pound is conveniently divided into halves, quarters, or eighths. During the Middle Ages there were many different pound standards in use, some of 12 ounces and some of 16. The use of these weight units naturally followed trade routes, since merchants trading along a certain route had to be familiar with the units used at both ends of the trip.

    In traditional English law the various pound weights are related by stating all of them as multiples of the grain, which was originally the weight of a single barleycorn. Thus barleycorns are at the origin of both weight and distance units in the English system.

    The oldest English weight system has been used since the time of the Saxon kings. It is based on the 12-ounce troy pound, which provided the basis on which coins were minted and gold and silver were weighed. Since Roman coins were still in circulation in Saxon times, the troy system was designed to model the Roman system directly. The troy pound weighs 5760 grains, and the ounces weigh 480 grains. Twenty pennies weighed an ounce, and therefore a pennyweight is 480/20 = 24 grains. The troy system continued to be used by jewelers and also by druggists until the nineteenth century. Even today gold and silver prices are quoted by the troy ounce in financial markets everywhere.

    Since the troy pound was smaller than the commercial pound units used in most of Europe, medieval English merchants often used a larger pound called the "mercantile" pound (libra mercatoria). This unit contained 15 troy ounces, so it weighed 7200 grains. This unit seemed about the right size to merchants, but its division into 15 parts, rather than 12 or 16, was very inconvenient. Around 1300 the mercantile pound was replaced in English commerce by the 16-ounce avoirdupois pound. This is the pound unit still in common use in the U.S. and Britain. Modeled on a common Italian pound unit of the late thirteenth century, the avoirdupois pound weighs exactly 7000 grains. The avoirdupois ounce, 1/16 pound, is divided further into 16 drams.

    Unfortunately, the two English ounce units don't agree: the avoirdupois ounce is 7000/16 = 437.5 grains while the troy ounce is 5760/12 = 480 grains. Conversion between troy and avoirdupois units is so awkward, no one wanted to do it. The troy system quickly became highly specialized, used only for precious metals and for pharmaceuticals, while the avoirdupois pound was used for everything else.

    Since at least 1400 a standard weight unit in Britain has been the hundredweight, which is equal to 112 avoirdupois pounds rather than 100. There were very good reasons for the odd size of this "hundred": 112 pounds made the hundredweight equivalent for most purposes with competing units of other countries, especially the German zentner and the French quintal. Furthermore, 112 is a multiple of 16, so the British hundredweight can be divided conveniently into 4 quarters of 28 pounds, 8 stone of 14 pounds, or 16 cloves of 7 pounds each. The ton, originally a unit of wine measure, was defined to equal 20 hundredweight or 2240 pounds.

    During the nineteenth century, an unfortunate disagreement arose between British and Americans concerning the larger weight units. Americans, not very impressed with the history of the British units, redefined the hundredweight to equal exactly 100 pounds. The definition of the ton as 20 hundredweight made the disagreement carry over to the size of the ton: the British "long" ton remained at 2240 pounds while the American "short" ton became exactly 2000 pounds. (The American hundredweight became so popular in commerce that British merchants decided they needed a name for it; they called it the cental.) Today, most international shipments are reckoned in metric tons, which, coincidentally, are rather close in weight to the British long ton.

     

    Medieval balance scale arms

     

    Circular trade weights -c1422 AD to Victorian

    Marks on weights

    Commercial weights have always been regulated by some authority or other, and generally exhibit marks showing when, and by whom, they were tested. Cast-iron weights generally have either a lead plug underneath, into which a stamp can be made, although older weights can have copper, brass, or lead plugs in the top of the weight. Brass weights can be stamped into directly, or can have a lead plug. Where lead is used, adding more or less weight allows the weight to be adjusted be the tester. The marks on a weight usually consist of:
    • a) The weight (but not always!)
    • b) The cipher of the monarch
    • c) Something to identify the locality where the weight was tested, either a number or a heraldic device.
    • d) A date
    • e) A maker's name (more often seen on cast-iron weights than brass ones).
    • f) Other marks, for example a design registration number, or a trade mark.

     

    Other marks you may see on weights include: A large letter A - meaning Avoirdupois, a small 'chequer board' - meaning that the weight was used to check other weights, a dagger - meaning that it was stamped in London , and a ewer (looks like a coffee-pot) and the date 1826 - which means it was assayed between 1826 and 1892.

    Stunning 16thC Tudor Elizabeth 1st trade weight - Crown EL London hall mark.

    Huge Victorian 8oz (1/2 lb) trade weight

    The four districts of Middlesex were allocated the numbers 28-31 in the new system.  The mark shown here was used in District 1 (the Tower Hamlets area) from 1879 to 1889, after which the district came under the jurisdiction of the new London County Council.

    Rare 1700 nicely hallmarked Queen Ann trade weight
    London hallmarked George III trade weight(b)
    1/2 Oz trade weight(y)
    Trade weight probably William III or IV (b)
     
    George 1st London hallmark trade weight
    George 1st trade weight

    1/4 Oz trade weight

    Middlesex mark 1850's

    Trade weight hallmarked William 1696
     
    Hallmarked London trade weight (b)
    Essex hallmarked trade weight
    Huge George 1st 1714 AD London hallmarked trade weight
    2- trade weights with a hallmark that is not in the reference book
    One once trade weigh
    London hallmarked trade weight
    George II trade weight
    Trade weight(c)

    19thC London trade weight

    Middlesex mark 1850's(r)

    20thC 2 oz trade weight
    George III London hallmark trade weight
    8 Drams weight
    George 1st London trade weight
    George 1st trade weight Lincoln Hallmark
    1 oz Victorian trade weight
    George II London hallmarked trade weight
    Trade weight not in the reference books - possible Post Office
    George II London hallmarked trade weight
    1704 Queen Anne trade weight - Crown A London
    1714 George 1st trade weight - Crown G mark - London
    2 George II trade weights London mint
    1705 Queen Anne trade weight London mint Georgian trade weight, , Crown G London hallmark
    17thC bronze cup type bullion weight
    Interesting bronze trade weight - possibly Dutch
    George 1st trade weight - Crown G London mark
    19thC London Guildhall hallmark trade weight
    1690's William and Mary trade weight with London hall mark sword and ewer George 1st trade weight - Cown G cipher London
    Georgian coin weight - Portcullis type - Westminster mark
    George II trade weight - London hall mark 1.84 g
    Victorian 2oz trade weight - Crown VR mark
    1670's Charles II trade weight - Crown C cipher London
    Victorian 2oz trade weight - Cown VR mark
    1704 Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher
    George 1st trade weight
    Victorian trade weight - Crown VR cipher
    1509-47 Henry VIII trade weight - London hallmark, Crown h - 1.9oz 48.9mm dia
    George 1st trade weight
    Georgian trade weight
    George III trade weight - London mint
    George III trade weight - London mint
    3 - Trade weights - need more cleaning but the bottom one is a George 1st London mint
    George III trade weight with London hallmarks
    George III trade weight with London hallmarks
    1696 William III trade weight - London mint mark, crown with W
    Victorian trade weight - Crown VR - 12.73g
    George III trade weight with London hallmarks
    Victorian trade weight with full hall marks

    1696 William III weight - NOT a coin weight but market traders weight

    Crown above GVINEA W type

    1509 AD Monster sized trade weight with Crown h mint mark indicating Henry VIII
    1509 - 47 AD Henry VIII trade weight - Crown h mintmark
    1826 William IIII trade weight - London Crown W 6.87g
    1704 Queen Anne trade weight - London mintmark Crown A
    Georgian trade weight - London hallmark

    16th C Henry VIII trade weight - Crown h mark London

    Interesting marks on reverse to lighten the weight ?

    Georgian trade weight - London hallmark
    1830's trade weight - London guildhall hallmark
    17thC William III trade weight
    George II trade weight - Crown G London mint

    George II trade weight - Crown G and London hallmark

    53.03g,36.12mm

    George II trade weight - Crown G London mint
    Stunning 17thC Charles 1st trade weight - Crown C with London hallmarks
    George III trade weight - Crown G hall mark
    17thC William III traxde weight - Crown W london hall mark
    George II trade weight - Crown G London mint
    1830 London guildhall trade weight
    Georgian trade weight- Crown G mark
    Trade weight - need more cleaning for date marks
    20thC 4 grams trade weight
    Facinating London trade weight - Stamped Crown W for 1696 William III and both Crown A for Queene Anne 1704 - Restamped after Williams death
    17thC William III trade weight - 'W' markings
    Victorian 1/4 oz trade weight
    George II trade weight - London hallmarks
    George 1st trade weight - Crown G London hall mark
    Excellent 17thC William and mary trade weight - Crown WM cipher London hallmarks
    20thC Elizabeth II 4oz trade weight
    George 1st trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    Imitation weight, forgery ?
    1835 London Guildhall trade weight
    1835 London Guildhall trade weight
    George II trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    George 1st trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    Victorian 1/2 oz trade weight
    Georgian trade weight - Crown G London mark
    George II trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    George II trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark
    1634 Charles 1st trade weight - Crown CR cipher
    George II trade weight - Crown G cypher - London hall mark

    Victorian trade weight - Crown VR 28 cipher

    The four districts of Middlesex were allocated the numbers 28-31 in the new system.  The mark shown here was used in District 1 (the Tower Hamlets area) from 1879 to 1889, after which the district came under the jurisdiction of the new London County Council.

    First totally unmarked trade weight we have ever found
    Huge George 1st trade weight - Crown G cipher London
    1704 Queen Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher
    20thC Elizabeth II 1oz trade weight - Crown ER cipher
    17thC Charles 1st trade weight - Crown C cipher

    George II trade weight - Crown G cipher

    London

    1704 Anne tarde weight - Crown A cipher
    Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher
    Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher 17thC William III trade weight - Crown W cipher
    1634 Charles 1st weight - crown C cipher 1830's London guildhall trade weight George III trade weight - Crown G cipher London George 1st trade weight - crown G cipher
    George 1st trade weight Crown G cipher London George II trade weight - Crown G cipher 1830's - trade weight - London mark
    George II trade weight - Crown G cipher London George 1st trade weight - Crown G London cipher
    1603 James 1st trade weight 1696 William III trade weight - Crown W cipher London 1830 London guildhall trade weight George II trade weight - Crown G cipher London
    20thC 10g trade weight Georgian trade weight - London 2oz Victorian trade weight 15thC Henry VIII trade weight - Crown h cipher - London mint
    George II trade weight 1826 London trade weight 1830's Guild hall London trade weight George II trade weight - Crown G London
    Georgian trade weight 1603 James 1st trade weight - Crown I cipher - London mint Victorian trade weight
    Victorian 1/4 oz trade weight George 1st trade weight - Cown G cipher London George III trade weight - London hall mark Victorian 1 oz trade weight
    Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher London 17thC Charles 1st/2nd trade weight - Crown C cipher 17thC Charles 1st/2nd trade weight - Crown C cipher 1704 Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher London
    Georgian trade weight 17thC Charles 1st trade weight - Crown C cipher London George 1st trade weight - Crown G cipher London
    1830's Georgian London Guildhall coin weight - Crown G and shield

    Georgian trade weight

    Crow G cipher London

    1485 Henry VII trade weight - Crown h mark
    Unknown trade weight - EX 6 marking ? George 1st trade weight - Crwon G cipher London George II trade weight - Crwon G cipher London
    Georgian trade weight

    Unknown trade weight - Averdepois mark under I - London 1590-1826

    Obv V I D - 6 pennyweights ?

    17thC Charles II trade weight - Crown C cipher London
    George 1st trade weight - London Crown G cipher Victorian Oz trade weight George II trade weight - Crown G London Victorian 1/4 oz trade weight
    George II trade weight - Crown G London cipher Victorian trade weight 17thC Willian III trade weight - Crown W cipher London Victorian trade weight
    1830's London Guildhall trade weight Post medieval trade weight Georgian trade weight - Crown G London cipher Georgian trade weight - Crown G London cipher

    1500-1550 Henry VII to Henry VIII trade weight

    40mm dia, 21.8g (0.769oz)

    Obv Crown h

    c1422 trade weight - earliest example with single crown stamped incuse
    Georgian trade weight

    1703 Queen Anne trade weight

    Crown A cipher

    Victorian 1 oz trade weight Georgian trade weight
    Victorian half ounce trade weight 1603 James 1st trade weight - Crown I cipher Unusual trade weight - stars and 895 inscription ?? Tiny George 1st trade weight - Crown G cipher
    17thC William III trade weight - Crown W cipher 17thC Charles 1st trade weight - Crown C cipher 17thC William III trade weight - Crown W cipher
    1704 Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian II trade weight - Crown G cipher
    1704 Queen Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher Georgian trade weigh - Crown G cipher 17thC Charles II trade weight - Crown G cipher Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher
    Henry VIII trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight 17thC Charles II trade weight - Crown C cipher
    1700's Queen Anne trade weight - Crown A cipher Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher Medieval trade weight
    1830's London Guildhall trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight 17thC coin weight
    Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight 17thC Charles trade weight - Crown C cipher Large Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher
    16thC trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight
    Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight
    Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Victorian half once trade weight
    Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight
    Georgian trade weight - Crown GR cipher Victorian trade weight Unknown trade weight -LYSTA ? Georgian trade weight
    Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight - crown G cipher Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher
    Georgian trade weight - Crown G cipher Victorian 1oz trade weight Georgian trade weight
    16thC Henry trade weight - Crown h cipher 16thC Henry trade weight - Crown h cipher Georgian trade weight Georgian trade weight

    Massive 16thC Henry VII/VIII trade weight Crown H cipher

    17thC London trade weight Georgian trade weight - London Crown G Georgian trade weight
         
    Georgian trade weight      

    Bell type trade weights - Hallmarks are generally on the collar

    19thC bell trade weight - crown V hallmark - London
    18thC 1 Oz bell shaped trade weight
    18th C Bell type trade weight
    18th C Bell type trade weight
    William III cast c/a trade weight 1694-1702
    18th C Bell type trade weight
    18th C Bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell trade weight 53.35g,
    Georgian bell trade weight 13.52 g,
    Georgian trade weight, unusally hallmarked on the base, Crown G
    Georgian bell trade weight
    Georgian bell trade weight
    Georgian bell trade weight - hallmark Crown G
    Interesting trade weight - no hallmarks

    19thC Victoria hall marked 1/2 oz bell type trade weight

    VA522

    Very unusual Geogian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell trade weight - Crown G mark
    1704 Queen Anne hall marked bell trade weight Georgian bell trade weight
    Georgian bell trade weight Georgian bell trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight  

    Victorian bell weight - marked 1/2 oz Georgian bell type trade weight
    Georgian bell type trade weight Georgian bell type trade weight
    Medieval bell type trade weight Georgian trade weight
     
    Georgian bell type trade weight  
       
       
       

    Lead trade weights

    Roman to modern lead trade weights

    Stunning early medieval lead shield trade weight - Lion pracing right - first of that type we have found

     

     

    c12thC Medieval heraldic shield type lead trade weight - hammer symbol

    Huge medieval heraldic shield type lead trade weight

    Chevrons

     

    Medieval lead heraldic shield type trade weight

     

    Medieval lead heraldic shield type trade weight

     

    Medieval shield type trade weight 15th C shield-shaped lead weight with cheverons x 2 pointing down, rounded bottom. 101 grms. Common to city of London variant 122 Rogers Lead Weights. Large prism standing weight which appears to have an undefined hallmark
    Medieval lead trade shield weight 49.87g (1.75 oz) 27.04 mm L x 25.57 mm W
    Medieval lead heraldic shield type trade weight Medieval lead heraldic shield type trade weight Medieval lead heraldic shield type trade weight
    17thC William and Mary trade weight
    Lead trade weight London mark
    Lead weight with shield and crest mark, not in books(c)
    Lead weight/seal with weave imprint
    Large bell shaped lead weight
    Hanging weight
    Post Medieaval trade weight

    Saxon period coin weight

    N.Biggs

     
     
     
    Queen Anne 1704 trade weight
    1700's Lead George trade weight hallmarked(y) 
    Circular lead weight, needs more cleaning to make out legends 
     
    Spectacular Plummer mark 1/4 pound trade weight, not in reference books, 1588 possibly
    Lead weight with circular designs - not ID'd
    Post medieval lead weight
    Earlier lead find Id'd as Roman coin weight - Eight scriptula(x)
    Medieval spindle whorl
    15thC Long cross trade weight
     
    lead coin weight
    Large very early Medieval bullion weight- N.Biggs
    Roman lead 3oz weight, 49.38 mm with III mark ref N.Biggs -
     
    Small stnaing weight
    Standing lead weight
    Saxon lead weight ref N.Biggs
    Medieval lead standing weight
    Possible Roman hanging weight Georgian hanging weight
    Roman lead 3oz weight, 49.12 mm with III mark ref N.Biggs
    ??
    Saxon lead weight ref N.Biggs
    ???
    Roman lead weights
    Lead weight - circle design possibly Roman
    Medieval lead weight with templers cross impression
    Huge medieval lead trade weight with petal design 42.11mm x772mm T
    Medieval lead coin weight - cross design
    1704 Queen Anne Lead circular trade weight 54.18g - double A mark with Crown
    Roman circular lead trade weight
    3/4 oz lead trade weight
    Hexangonal lead trade weight with punched shield design - unclassified - 200g

    Viking gaming pice

    813.g, 25.79mm dia x11.65mm T

    Roman lead trade weight with curious circle mark and MXC on obverse
    1603 AD Norwich Series James 1st 1.74oz lead trade weight - shield M mark
    Medieval lead weight
    1690 William III circular lead trade weight – Bust and Averdepois mark, 0.86 oz
    15th Long cross lead trade weight
    17thC Angel Plummer mark 1/4 pound trade weight,
    Curious trade weight shape - Georgian ?
    C10thC Saxon lead trade weight
    Medieval lead hanging weight Post medieval lead hanging weight
    Medieval lead hanging weight

     

    Lead trade weights- Roman to medieval
    Roman lead hanging weight
    17thC Norwich series lead 1/4 pound trade weight
    Huge 16thC Elizabeth 1st lead trade weight - Crown E cipher
    17thC Plummers company hallmarked trade weight - this weighes exactly 1Ib (16 ozs) on my digital scales - amazing accuracy to make this lump of lead within 3 decimal places
    Superb dated 1751 lead trade weight - inscribed WG on obv
    Saxon lead trade weight
    18thC weight C 9thC Saxon lead trade weight - snake design
    Lead trade weight with clear cipher marks - not one in my ref books 1680's James II lead trade weight - IR - Plumbers Company mark
    Interesting lead coin weight - no looked it up in ref books yet 17thC lead trade weight

    16thC lead trade weights - Elizabeth 1st

    Huge c10thC Anglo Scandinavian trade weight with runic inscription - one for the museum

    The inscription on the weight seems to read YN[A?}HINAA:, which does not make much sense on a first reading. You could ask Prof. Norman Biggs

    Dr Martin Allen

     

    Post medieval lead hanging trade weight - interesting markings not known
    Post medieval trade weight Early medieval lead trade weight Medieval weight
    Interesting medieval lead trade weight with copper plug Medieval lead trade weight
         
      Early medieval trade weight  
    1704 Anne lead trade weight Medieval trade weight
    16thC Elizabeth 1st Lead trade weight - Crown E Huge medieval lead hanging trade weight
    Medieval lead steelyard weight 17thC lead trade weight
    Medieval lead trade weight Post medieval lead trade weight

     

    Medieval trade weights - Long cross and pellets

    Huge medieval trade weight - Long cross and pellets

    Medieval lead trade weight - Portcullis design 17thC Angel Plummers mark lead trade weight
    Early medieval lead trade weight Uknown lead trade weight with with Lion mark
    Medieval lead trade weight Post medieval lead hanging prism weight
    Huge post medieval steelyard weight Post medieval lead hanging weight
    Post medieval lead hanging weight Post medieval trade weight
    Post medieval lead trade weight - weave impression Post medieval lead trade weight
    Post medieval lead trade weight Medieval lead long cross trade weight
       
       

    Bullion cup weights 17th/18th C

    Part of a nest of several different weights that fitted inside each other - the outer weight had the holes for a carrying handle or clasp

    Complete set of bullion cup weights found in its case

     

     

    18thC bullion cup weight with XD on the rim - 10 pence ?