The metric system of measures is familiar to modern man. But novice buyers of investment bullion may be surprised that a special unit of measurement is used as a standard for the weight of precious metals - the troy ounce (troy ounce, t oz or oz t), which has no relation to either the SI or the system of measures used in USA. For those encountering the precious metals market for the first time, it is important to understand why and how much a troy ounce of gold weighs in grams.

Weighing as a comparison of the weights of two objects has been familiar to mankind for thousands of years. Lever scales appear in images surviving from the earliest civilizations. This instrument was used almost unchanged until the twentieth century.

In medieval times, even money was determined by weighing. Jewelers and traders in Europe used wheat and barley grains as a standard, while in the east they preferred carob seeds. Due to the stability of their weight, four such seeds amounted to one carat.

A silver medieval penny weighed one pennyweight and was divided into two halves and four farthings by weight. A pennyweight was 1/240 of a troy pound, which in turn was equal to 5,670 grains of barley, specially selected (of equal weight and length) so that they could be used as units of measurement.

The Troy measuring system supposedly originated in the 15th century in the French city of Troyes in Champagne, where large commodity fairs were held. The French-born King of England, Henry II, adjusted the British coinage system towards unifying it with the methods of weighing in Troyes. By 1527, this system had become the official standard for gold and silver in Great Britain. The US followed suit in 1828.

Ozt nowadays

Before the adoption of the metric system, troy units were used in various parts of Europe. Their values ​​varied by several percent.

The modern unit of weight corresponds to the imperial troy ounce and the following proportions are accepted for it:

  • 12 ozt is 1 tr. lb;
  • 1 ozt contains 20 pennyweight.

Such ratios have a connection with the British monetary system, based on the old pound of 240 pence. Therefore, such a weighing system is called a coin system. IN modern world Coin weights are used only for weighing precious metals and stones. According to ISO4217 codes, the following designations are assigned to the units of weight of investment metals:

  • XAU - t oz gold;
  • XAG - t oz silver;
  • XPT - t oz platinum.

Today, ozt is the international standard for precious metals trading. All major trading platforms set prices without commenting on how many grams are in a troy ounce of gold and what quality, since experienced investors are in any case aware of such nuances.

Equivalent in SI and avoirdupois

The Troyes scale measure involves dividing the pound into 12 parts. This is very different from the everyday weight system used in the United States, in which 16 ounces equal one pound.

Traditional American weight measurement is called the avowed weight system. The standard pound is heavier than the troy pound by approximately 21.5 percent and, in terms of grain measurement, was 7000 grains (grains) versus 5760 (12 × 480) in the troy pound. Gran is the smallest unit of mass for the pharmacy, troy and avoirdupois systems.

To understand how much an ounce of gold is in grams, you need to determine the net and gross standards for measuring precious metals. On precious metals exchanges, one ounce of gold always means a troy ounce of gold with a purity of 99.99%. This is the maximum purity of the noble metal; complete removal of impurities is technically impossible. The same applies to 1oz of silver or other precious metal.

Troy weight refers to pure metal only, any other components are subtracted from the pure weight. 31.1034768 grams - this number, accurate to the seventh decimal place, is sufficient for any practical application of knowing how many grams are in an ounce. 31.103 is a number that is easy to remember, meaning how much an ounce of gold weighs in grams in an approximation convenient for everyday use.

Between the metric, troy and avoirdupois systems, a large number of ratios in units can be made due to the cumbersomeness of traditional measures. For understanding, the following values ​​converted to SI kilograms will be sufficient:

  • 1kg = 35.2740 oz;
  • 1kg = 32.1507 ozt;
  • 1oz = 0.9114 ozt;
  • 1oz = 0.02835 kg.

To measure weight, a troy grain can be used, which is equivalent to a mass of 0.0648 g.

The weight of coins can be divided into two categories. The first is historical or everyday coins made of precious metal. The second includes those intended for investment purposes along with bullion.

Such coins are minted in accordance with the troy weight system and the following values ​​are traditional for them:

  • 1/10 t oz;
  • ¼ t oz;
  • ½ t oz;
  • 1 t oz.

Minted at the South African Mint. In 1980, it accounted for 90% of all world gold coins. The name itself is a combination of the person's name on the front side and the unit of South African currency. In the 1870s. and 1980s. years, some countries banned the import of the Krugerrand due to links with apartheid South Africa. Now the coin is popular among collectors and investors.

Kruger rand production levels have varied considerably over half a century. In the first years, 40 thousand coins were minted, in 1970 the issue increased to 200 thousand copies and continued to grow. In total, approximately six million Krugerrands were produced.

The coin was developed as a means of private investment in gold, was sold equivalent to its price and had no face value, but had the status of legal tender. In addition to the ounce Krugerrand, small coins were minted in half and quarter and tenth oz t. The emission contains about 46 million ozt of gold (about 1500 tons). The success of the Krugerrand prompted a reaction from other government mints, which also began minting coins on a fractional ounce basis.

Maple leaf

Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint since 1979. Face value: 50 Canadian dollars. Market value varies depending on. Its purity sometimes reaches 99.999%.

In addition to standard denominations, it is produced in weights of 1/25 and 1/20 t oz. The obverse and reverse represent the profile of Elizabeth II and the Canadian maple leaf. In 2007, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced a coin with a face value of $1 million with a gold price of $2 million. Its diameter was 50 cm with a thickness of 3 cm and a weight of 100 kg.

A series of coin bars issued by the People's Republic of China. A Chinese mint official introduced a gold panda coin in 1982. The design has changed every year since then.

This coin comes in a variety of sizes and variations ranging from 1/20 t oz to 1 t oz. There are also a number of silver coins with the same characteristics. There are “Giant Panda” coins weighing 5 and 12 t oz.

Produced since 1986 in 1/10, ¼, ½ and 1 t oz weights. The actual weight of gold indicated is guaranteed by the US government. The silver content of the alloy is 3%, which makes the coin not like the Krugerrand.

22 carat gold alloy (916 hallmark) is traditional English gold. It has not been used on US coins since 1834. By 1837, the gold content of the coin alloy had dropped to 90%. By the time the American Eagle appeared, the content had increased again to 91.67%.

Minted by the Perth Mint, introduced by a company wholly owned by the Australian Government. Denominations were produced in 1/20, 1/10, ¼, ½, 1, 2, 10 oz and 1 kg of 99.99% gold. They have legal tender status in Australia. An annual limited edition with an original design makes the Australian Nugget a collector's item.

It has two unique features: a two-tone effect due to the rough matte and glossy surfaces and a custom hard encapsulation that protects the coin from impacts and scratches. These features were unusual for standard gold coins and allowed the Nugget to carve out a unique niche in the market.

Austrian Philharmonic (philharmoniker)

The coin has been minted in 99.99% pure gold since 1989. Issued annually in four denominations, sizes and weights. Legal as a means of payment in Austria, after circulation it inevitably ends up in private collections. According to the World Gold Council, it was the most traded coin in the world in 1932, 1995 and 1996. Produced in a weight of 1 t oz and a denomination of 100 euros.

WITH reverse side depicts a set musical instruments, representing the Vienna Philharmonic, on the reverse is the large organ of the concert hall. The denomination of Philharmonikers is indicated in shillings (until 2002) or euros. The weight, purity of the alloy and year of manufacture are also indicated. Since 2008, not only gold, but also silver Philharmonic coins have been minted. Their design is identical to the gold coin except for the stated nominal value of 1.5 euros.

It is obvious that the minting of weight coins not only has not died, but is also experiencing a rebirth. Investors around the world buy and sell gold in troy ounces, so the idea of ​​purchasing legal tender multiples of ozt values ​​will always be attractive.

Many of you, of course, have heard the word “ounce”. But does everyone know what it means? It's outdated and more. By the way, this concept has a rich history. And in some sectors of the economy you can’t do without it. So 1 ounce how many grams weighs?

Word

Without a doubt, this is a term of Latin origin. In ancient Rome, this was the name given to one twelfth of the libra, the main measure of weight. However, not only mass was measured with it. In general, it may seem that the Romans were very fond of this word.

They often said: “I walked four ounces of the way to...” or “I read three ounces of the book.” What did this mean? Is it really possible to measure distance using scales? 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 measured for her? And how? Also in Ancient Rome, an ounce was called a coin. When minting, one dot was placed on it. The coin, of course, had a small denomination. It was made from an alloy of tin, copper and lead. Some Spanish (doubloons) and Chinese gold coins were also called this way.

Measures

So, an ounce is, of course, not only It is also two and one - forces. In general, to find out the mass, there are several ounces. The Romans, as mentioned above, also used it to measure length, area, capacity and even the size of an inheritance. Thus, 1 ounce of length in Ancient Rome was equal to 0.0246 meters. And the surface (area) there was measured using jugers. Accordingly, one twelfth of it - 1 ounce - is equal to 209.91 meters.

Varieties

The ancient Roman measure of weight - 1 ounce (one twelfth of a libra) was equal to 28.34 g. It seems quite a bit. But it was also divided into lobes: semuntia, sicilicus, scrupula and siliqua. The latter were as many as 144 in an ounce.

Before the metric system of measures, the ounce was widespread in Europe. It is still in use today. However, not all weights with this name are the same. Let's take a closer look at the most famous ones.

Troy ounce

Probably the most can be said about this unit of measurement. It is currently used for weighing precious metals. It is also a unit when trading the latter on special exchanges.

There, prices for gold and other precious metals are determined precisely on the basis of one troy ounce. Its weight in metric terms is approximately 31.103 grams. As you can see, it is different from a regular ounce. It is also used in jewelry and banking. It is also used to measure the weight of valuable ingredients in cosmetology. But how did it come about?

The origin of this term can be dated back to the thirteenth century AD. Some may find it surprising, but this measure has nothing to do with the legendary city of Troy. And she appeared in the French city of 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 different currencies (in France at that time almost every city had its own money) and weights (each product had its own) created confusion in trade, and therefore after some time it was decided to take the French livre, which contained a pound of silver, as the standard.

1 troy ounce, respectively, is one twelfth of this weight measure. There is an opinion that this could not have happened 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. It was later that the precious metal in them began to be replaced with nickel or copper. However, kings came and went. And control over the minters, of whom there were quite a lot, was not always at a sufficient level. So silver became less and less. Very often, precious coins were cut off altogether in order to extract silver or gold. Therefore, it was necessary to introduce standard coinage with a clear boundary. Over time, gold and silver, of course, have significantly increased in value and the value of all world coins. And they practically stopped adding them there.

Coins

Currently, banks in many countries around the world continue to issue gold coins. Moreover, they are purchased not only for private collections. This way people can invest and store money in gold. In this sense, it is equivalent to gold bars. Most of these coins contain just a troy ounce of gold:

1. Australian gold bar (coin).

2. Austrian Philharmonic.

3. American golden buffalo.

5. Canadian golden maple leaf.

6. Chinese panda.

7. South African Krugerrand.

They all have the corresponding inscription. Moreover, of course, not all of them weigh exactly a troy ounce. They may also contain other metals. But a troy ounce of gold, silver or platinum must be in them. By the way, when buying precious metals online, be careful: in what units of measurement the weight is indicated. After all, an ounce of avoirdupois (it is now most often used in trade) is lighter than a troy ounce. As you can see, this seemingly outdated measure of weight has no intention of losing its position in this area to grams and kilograms. Perhaps this is because such a significant commodity as gold, for example, must also be measured in significant quantities. And it’s easier to produce ingots weighing 31 g than one-gram ones. In general, using the example of a coin, you can perfectly and easily answer the question: “An ounce is how many grams of gold?”

American system of measures

In the United States, pounds are still used to measure weight. And along with them, therefore, ounces. But again, not the same as everywhere else.

Avoirdupois or the so-called trading ounce. Used for selling goods by weight. In the metric system its value is 28.349 g.

An American fluid ounce is used for It is equal to approximately 29.537 ml. When indicating 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 weights

Like many other things, the 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. So, for example, in Germany it was considered one sixteenth of a trade pound. It was also used in medicine, where it was equal to 1/12 of the small pharmaceutical weight. It was used to measure weight when preparing medicines. The so-called apothecary ounce has survived to this day. Russia also adopted this system from the Germans. It weighed from 25 to 35 g, depending on the country where it was used. It is sometimes used today. Therefore, when buying any foreign medicine at a pharmacy, it is important to know how many grams are in 1 ounce. Neither you nor the doctor need an overdose.

In the Netherlands they also used the ounce. And even when they switched to a new system in 1820, they retained their Dutch ounce to indicate its weight of one hundred grams.

Other European countries were not far behind. In Italy there were 12 Roman ounces in the pound, and in Spain and Portugal there were 16 in the Castilian libre and artel respectively.

In England, the above-mentioned troy ounce, apothecary and commercial, existed. They were fractions of pounds of the same name. But if troy and apothecary are 1/12, then a trade ounce was equal to one sixteenth.

And once again about coins. In Sicily, until 1860, the ounce was in use. It was equal to two and a half scudi, three ducats. And it was equivalent to one hundred and twenty-three Italian lire of modern times.

On other continents

In addition to America, where the ounce has taken root in the United States, it has also found its use 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.

In conclusion

So we found out what 1 ounce is equal to. And that it appeared in Ancient Rome. There it was used to measure not only weight, it was more of a mathematical symbol. From there she set off to conquer the world. In many ways, the ounce anticipated the metric system in Europe. Only instead of one tenth, 1/12 appeared in Ancient Rome. This probably happened due to mythology. In people's lives back then, the number twelve was quite symbolic.

Then the ounce boldly walked across Europe, changing slightly depending on the country. Then it was replaced by more convenient kilograms and grams. But in the form of the troy and avoirdupois ounce, it has survived to this day. Probably because good things are hard to forget. After all, it became the first standard measure of weight in developing Europe. And largely thanks to her, the economies of the countries were able to develop correctly. It facilitated trade and became a measure of the most valuable commodity at that time - gold.

The ounce, as a unit of measurement, is quite rare in Russia and is familiar to a rather narrow circle of people, although the unit of measurement of weight and volume is the ounce (in Latin uncia, in ancient rome translated as one twelfth) was used in many countries before they adopted the metric system. Currently, an ounce is the name of a measure of weight in a number of units of measurement and 1 ounce is 437.5 grains or 28.349523 grams in the metric weight system. Our online script allows you to convert units of weight in ounces into grams or convert back weight in grams into ounces. Unfortunately, the free script cannot be downloaded, but we will always be glad to see you on our website. Continuing the conversation about the unit of measurement ounce, I would like to draw attention to the fact that in English and Russian systems of measurement in ounces, measures of volume of liquid bodies are also measured and the ounce is used as a unit of measurement of force. In the English system of measures:
a unit of weight of 1 ounce is equal to 16 drachms or 437.5 grains or 28.35 grams in the metric system,
in troy measure when measuring precious stones and metals 1 ounce is equal to 8 drachms or 31.1035 grams in the metric system, the same value in the apothecary weight system,
when measuring volume, 1 ounce is equal to 29.57 milliliters.
In Holland, after the introduction of the metric system in the country, 1 ounce (ons) is equal to 100 grams of weight. Also, the volume of liquid is measured in ounces; in America, 1 ounce is equal to 29.57 cubic centimeters, and in England 28.41 cubic centimeters. In the Middle Ages, the ounce (uncia) was used as a Roman monetary unit and consisted of 20 denarii. In conclusion, I would like to remind you once again that our free program converts the unit of weight ounce (ounces) into grams and back. Oz this symbol and an abbreviation for ounces.

weight unit calculator

To convert weight units between grams and ounces, you need to enter the number you need in the gram or ounce field and click the desired direction arrow for converting the weight unit.

Let's find out what the scary number means 3.4 (or 1.7 , or 1.04 ) and no less scary letters Fl Oz(fl. oz., oz. fl), which are sometimes written on the packaging? This is just the volume of the bottle in the so-called " fluid ounces" (fluid ounce), a measure of volume different from the "dry ounce", or simply "ounce", which is a measure of weight. To confuse everyone, there is also Imperial fluid ounce which is used in the USA And if usually 1 fl. Oz = 28 ml(more precisely, 28.41 ), then in the USA 1 fl. Oz equal to 30 ml(more precisely, it is equal to 29.57 ) liquids, if indicated on food labels. The fluid ounce is a non-systemic unit adopted in some areas ( troy ounce- in jewelry, apothecary's ounce- in pharmaceuticals, fluid ounce- in perfumery).

Origin of the word itself Ounce quite old and dates back to Latin and Roman times. It meant 1/12 of a larger unit - libra. And it was about 28 A modern meaning fluid ounce received in 1824 when the British Parliament determined that one gallon must be equal to volume 10 everdepuated(do you know this word? And I don’t) pounds water. Gallon, in turn, is divisible by 4 quarts or 8 pints. And each pint divisible by 4 Gila or 12 ounces. This is how it has happened since 1824.

3.4 (actually 3.38140, which is why sometimes they write 3.3 ) Fl. Oz. is a volume equal to the volume of the bottle in 100 ml. Why is this so accepted? Honestly, I don't know. Probably because the power of a Ferrari or Lexus engine is measured in horsepower - historically.

The following table is proposed for converting fluid ounces into milliliters that are more familiar to us:

0.5 fl.oz= 15ml
1.0 fl.oz= 30ml
1.5 fl.oz= 45ml
1.7 fl.oz= 50ml
2.0 fl.oz= 60ml
2.5 fl.oz= 75ml
3.4 fl.oz= 100ml

Gold is a precious metal that has several units of measurement depending on the territory. It is difficult for beginners to navigate the transfer of one unit to another. Therefore, people have a question: how much will an ounce of gold weigh in grams? Units of measurement are needed to determine the exact weight of the precious metal. The most popular among them:

  • Grams. This unit of measurement is international, but, unfortunately, it has not taken root in all countries.
  • Ounces. Even though the measurement system is quite old, it still exists, especially in relation to the weight of precious metals. And the question of how many grams are in an ounce is still relevant.
  • Carat and fineness are not units of weight. This is simply a measure of the amount of gold in the piece of jewelry and is expressed as a percentage or carat. Knowing this value and how much the jewelry weighs, you can calculate the mass of pure gold contained in it.

How the amount of gold is measured depends on tradition. In some countries, they prefer to use ounces when measuring any product, including gold.

Troy ounce

Origin of the ounce

A troy ounce of gold in grams is equal to 31.1035, which is often rounded to the nearest 31 grams. It so happened that in jewelry, cosmetics and banking, to this day, the cost of gold by weight is determined in ounces.

It all started in the 12th century in the town of Troyes on the banks of the Seine. It was there that the largest fairs in Europe were held, in which traders and merchants from different countries. And so there was confusion in monetary processes, since currency exchange rates simply did not exist at that time.

And all the coins, one way or another, were made of precious metals, so the weight of the French livre, which corresponded to one troy pound of silver, was taken as the basis for calculations. Thus, the troy ounce began to gain popularity and soon conquered the world of precious metals: now gold is most often measured with its help. Therefore, the origin of the name has nothing to do with Troy, and writing “Trinity ounce” is incorrect.

A troy ounce is comparable in weight to one-twelfth of an English gold coin pound. 1 ounce of gold weighs the same as some coins:

  • Canadian gold maple leaf;
  • American Golden Eagle;
  • American golden buffalo;
  • Australian gold bar (this is not an ordinary gold bar).

In addition, we should not forget that, in addition to the troy ounce, there are several other types:

  • an ounce of avoirdupois, its weight is 28.34 grams;
  • pharmaceutical ounce, which existed in Russia and is equivalent to 26.89 grams;
  • ounce in grams of Maria Teresa is equal to 31.10.

Despite the fact that the numbers are close to each other, the troy ounce is still the main one in bank calculations for the purchase/sale of gold, and it is in it that the precious metal will continue to be measured. Therefore, when purchasing, you must definitely clarify the weight measure, since even the slightest differences in milligrams will affect the cost. The price per ounce of the precious metal is expressed in US dollars, since the dollar is the world's reserve currency.

Troy ounce

How is the price of an ounce of gold determined?

The price of gold per ounce is set using the London fixing. This operation takes place at 10.30 and 15.00 London time in three currencies: US dollar, pound sterling and euro. But on commodity exchanges everyone uses dollars.

This process is controlled by five leading global banks: Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, HSBC, Scotia Mocatta and Barclays Capital. They are the ones who analyze the situation on the gold market, compare supply and demand for the precious metal and set the final price.

A fixed price allows the broker to quickly contact buyers and adjust the price depending on the type of transaction.

The inscription “oz” or “ounce” on bars is much more common than grams. This is already a world, or royal, measurement quality standard, and it cannot be easily avoided. Everyone has long been accustomed to using ounces.

For recent years There is a trend of rising gold prices per ounce. The crisis situation in the economy of many countries is one of the main reasons for the increase in the cost of an ounce of precious metal, and the process also depends on the policies of large banks and state governments. Therefore, according to experts, the next five years will see an increase in gold prices.

The cost of the precious metal still depends on a combination of many factors and requires an analysis of the market situation. Therefore, investors carefully monitor the exchange rate in order to profitably play on gold prices.