Many of you, of course, have heard the word ounce. But does everyone know what it means? This is an outdated measure of weight and more. Incidentally, this concept has a rich history. And in some sectors of the economy, this measure is by no means indispensable. So 1 ounce how many grams weigh?
Word
Without a doubt, this is a term of Latin origin. In ancient Rome, they called one twelfth of the libra - the main measure of weight. However, not only mass was measured by it. In general, it may seem that the word is very fond of the Romans.
It was often said there: "I have walked four ounces of the way to .." or "I read three ounces of a book." What did that mean? Is it really possible to measure the distance using weights? Of course not. An ounce is another twelfth of something. Well, either one tenth or thirteenth - depending on the country and time. So what else was she measured? And How? Also an ounce in ancient Rome called a coin. When stamping, they put one point. The coin, of course, was of a small denomination. They made it from an alloy of tin, copper and lead. Some Spanish (doubloons) and Chinese gold coins were called so.
Measures
So, an ounce is, of course, not only the standard of weight. These are also two units of measurement of volume and one - of force. In general, to find out the mass, there are a few ounces. The Romans, as mentioned above, also used it to measure length, area, capacity, and even the size of the inheritance. So, 1 ounce of length in ancient Rome was equal to 0.0246 meters. And the surface (area) there was measured by yugers. Accordingly, one twelfth of it - 1 ounce - is equal to 209.91 meters.
Varieties
Ancient Roman measure of weight - 1 ounce (one twelfth of the libra) was 28.34 g. It seems to be quite a bit. But it was also divided into shares: semunts, sicilicuses, scrupules, and silicas. The last was an ounce as many as 144.
Prior to the metric system, an ounce was ubiquitous in Europe. It is used to this day. However, not even all weight measures with the same name are the same. Let us dwell on the most famous.
Troy ounce
Of this unit of measurement, probably the most can be said. It is currently used for weighing precious metals. It is also a unit when trading the latter on special exchanges.
There, the prices of gold and other precious metals are determined precisely at the rate of one troy ounce. Its weight in terms of the metric system is approximately 31.103 grams. As you can see, it is different from an ordinary ounce. It is also used in jewelry and banking. It also measures the weight of valuable ingredients in cosmetology. But how did she appear?
The emergence of this term can be attributed to the thirteenth century AD. It may seem surprising to someone, but this measure has nothing to do with the legendary city of Troy. And she appeared in the French Troyes. There at that time (12-13 centuries, and according to some sources - from the 5th century) three-month fairs became very popular, which attracted people from many European countries. The abundance of various currencies (almost every city had its own money in France) and weights (for each product had its own) created confusion in trade, and therefore after a while it was decided to take the French livre, which contained a pound of silver, as a standard.
1 troy ounce, respectively, is one twelfth of this measure of weight. There is an opinion that this could not have done without the participation of the French crown. In any case, the unit seemed very convenient. After all, this coin weighed exactly a pound. And at that time, money was valued precisely for its weight. This later, the precious metal in them began to be replaced by nickel or copper. However, the kings came and went. And control over the coinage, which was a lot, was not always at a sufficient level. So silver in French coins became less and less. Very often, precious coins are generally cut off to mine silver or gold. Therefore, it was necessary to introduce standard coinage with a clear border. Over time, gold and silver, of course, significantly outgrew the face value of all world coins. And they almost stopped adding them.
Coins
Currently, banks in many countries of the world continue to issue gold coins. And they get them not only for private collections. Thus, people can invest and store money in gold. In this sense, it is the equivalent of gold bars. Most of these coins contain just a troy ounce of gold:
1. Australian gold bar (coin).
2. Austrian Philharmonic.
3. American gold buffalo.
4. American Golden Eagle.
5. Canadian Gold Maple Leaf.
6. Chinese panda.
7. South African Krugerrand.
They all have a corresponding inscription. And, of course, not all of them weigh exactly an ounce. They may contain other metals. But a troy ounce of gold, silver or platinum in them must be. By the way, when buying precious metals via the Internet, be careful: in what units of measure is the weight indicated there. Indeed, an ounce of averdyupua (it is now most often used in trade) is easier than a troy. As you can see, this seemingly outdated measure of weight does not even think of giving up its positions in this sphere to grams and kilograms. Perhaps this is because such a significant commodity as gold, for example, should also be measured in significant quantities. Yes, and ingots are easier to produce weighing 31 g, rather than single-gram ones. In general, by the example of a coin, one can perfectly and easily answer the question: "An ounce - how many grams of gold?"
American system of measures
In the United States, pounds are still used to measure weight. And with them, therefore, ounces. But again, not like everyone else.
Averdyupua or the so-called trading ounce. It was used when selling goods by weight. In the metric system, its value is 28.349 g.
An American fluid ounce is used to measure volumes. It is approximately 29.537 ml. When specifying the volume on food packages for convenience, it is equated to 30 milliliters. The British, by the way, have their own fluid ounce. Its volume is 28.413 ml.
European weight measures
Like many other things, an ounce was borrowed from the Roman Empire by almost all the peoples of Europe. And it was used everywhere until the introduction of the metric system in the eighteenth century. For example, in Germany it was considered one sixteenth share of the trading pound. It was also used in medicine, where 1/12 of small pharmaceutical weight was equal. She measured the weight in the preparation of drugs. The so-called pharmacy ounce has been preserved to this day. The Germans adopted this system and Russia. She weighed from 25 to 35 g - depending on the country where she was used. Apply it sometimes even today. Therefore, when buying any foreign medicine at a pharmacy, it is important to know how many grams are in 1 ounce. An overdose is not needed either by you or the doctor.
In the Netherlands, they also used an ounce. And even when they switched to a new system in 1820, they retained their Dutch ounce to denote its weight of one hundred grams.
Other European countries did not lag behind. In Italy, there were 12 Roman ounces in a pound, and in Spain and Portugal 16 each, in Castilian libre and artel.
In England there already existed the above troy ounce, pharmacy and trade. They were fractions of the same pounds. But if the troy and drugstore is 1/12, then the trading ounce was equal to one sixteenth.
And again about the coins. In Sicily, an ounce was in use until 1860. It was equal to two and a half scudi, three ducats. And it was equivalent to one hundred twenty-three Italian liras of modern times.
On other continents
In addition to America, where an ounce took root in the United States, it found its application in Africa. In the north of this continent it was called ukkiya. So, in Algeria, it corresponded to 34.13 grams, in Tunisia - 31.68, in Egypt - 37.068 and in Tripoli, 1 ounce weighed 30.02 g.
Finally
So we found out what 1 ounce is. And that she appeared in ancient Rome. There, it was used to measure not only weight; it was rather a mathematical symbol. From there she went to conquer the world. In many ways, an ounce anticipated the metric system in Europe. Only instead of one tenth in Ancient Rome, 1/12 appeared. This probably happened due to mythology. In the life of people, then the number twelve was quite symbolic.
Further, an ounce boldly strode across Europe, changing slightly, depending on the country. Then it was replaced by more convenient kilograms and grams. But in the form of a troy and averdyupua an ounce has reached our days. Probably because the good is badly forgotten. After all, it became the first standard measure of weight in developing Europe. And largely thanks to her, the economies of countries were able to develop correctly. It facilitated trade and became the measure of the most valuable commodity at that time - gold.