Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1892 — Troy Weight. [ARTICLE]

Troy Weight.

The smallest measure of weights in use, the grain, has its name from being originally the weight of a grain of wheat. A statute passed in England in 1266 ordained that thirtytwo grains of wheat, »ken from the middle of the ear or head, and well dried, should make a pennyweight, twenty of which should make an ounce, while twelve ounces were to make a pound. The pound, therefore, consisted then of 7,680 grains. Some centuries later the pennyweight was divided into twenty-four grains, which make the troy pound. The pennyweight was the exact weight oi the old' silver penny.—St. Louis Republic.