Two pound weight, 1707
UK weights and measures have been standardised by Royal Ordinance since medieval times. A number of Weights and Measures Acts in the eighteenth century cleared away some of the old tangle with new definitions. This is one of Haddington’s Avoirdupois or Imperial ounces and pounds set.
This flat weight measures two pounds Avoirdupois (abbreviated AUER). It is made of brass or bronze and bears an engraved crown and inscription reading PRIMO MAII ANO DONI 1707 AR Ao REGNI VI LI II AUER ["First of May, 1707, Queen Anne, in the sixth year of her reign"] on the upper face and stamped marks on the rim and base.
This weight was issued in or around 1707, when Scotland was obliged to adopt English weights and measure by the terms of the Acto of Union, and was used as part of a standard set up to and beyond metric redefinitions in 1963. They were used in Haddington to regulate shopkeepers’ and traders’ measures. Avoirdupois was the standard weighing system used to measure everything except precious metals.
Museum id no. 1996.96.4
2 comments
Pete Gray wrote...
Sure. Job done.
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Imperial weights and measures, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.