Instrument - Weights and measures, Late 19th century

Historical information

A pennyweight was a unit of mass that was equal in weight to 20 grains, one twentieth of an ounce and one 240th of a Troy pound. The abbreviation for a pennyweight is ‘dwt’ (denarius weight). These measures and weights were typically used for weighing gold and other precious metals.

Physical description

Group of eleven weights and measures including seven rectangular pennyweights with clipped corners and marked 10 DWTS, 6 DWTS, 5 DWTS, 4 DWTS, 3 DWTS, 2 DWTS respectively, two gram weights; 5 grams and 4 grams with top right pressed corner and two cup troy weights marked 4oz TROY and ½.

Inscriptions & markings

284.1 10 DWTS
284.2 6 DWTS
284.3 5 DWTS
284.4 4 DWTS
284.5 3 DWTS
284.6 2 DWTS
284.7 1 DWTS
284.8 5 GRAMS
284.9 4 GRAMS
284.10 4 oz TROY
284.11 ½

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