De Re Metallica Part 26

5th = 8 "

6th = 4 "

7th = 2 "

8th = 1 _libra_.

This _libra_ consists of sixteen _unciae_, and the half part of the _libra_ is the _selibra_, which our people call a _mark_, and consists of eight _unciae_, or, as they divide it, of sixteen _semunciae_:--

9th = 8 _unciae_.

10th = 8 _semunciae_.

11th = 4 "

12th = 2 "

13th = 1 _semuncia_.

14th = 1 _sicilicus_.

15th = 1 _drachma_.

16th = 1 _dimidi-drachma_.

[Ill.u.s.tration 262 (Weights for a.s.say Balances)]

The above is how the "greater" weights are divided. The "lesser" weights are made of silver or bra.s.s or copper. Of these, the first and largest generally weighs one _drachma_, for it is necessary for us to weigh, not only ore, but also metals to be a.s.sayed, and smaller quant.i.ties of lead.

The first of these weights is called a _centumpondium_ and the number of _librae_ in it corresponds to the larger scale, being likewise one hundred[42].

The 1st is called 1 _centumpondium_.

" 2nd " 50 _librae_.

" 3rd " 25 "

" 4th " 16 "

" 5th " 8 "

" 6th " 4 "

" 7th " 2 "

" 8th " 1 "

" 9th " 1 _selibra_.

" 10th " 8 _semunciae_.

" 11th " 4 "

" 12th " 2 "

" 13th " 1 "

" 14th " 1 _sicilicus_.

The fourteenth is the last, for the proportionate weights which correspond with a _drachma_ and half a _drachma_ are not used. On all these weights of the lesser scale, are written the numbers of _librae_ and of _semunciae_. Some copper a.s.sayers divide both the lesser and greater scale weights into divisions of a different scale. Their largest weight of the greater scale weighs one hundred and twelve _librae_, which is the first unit of measurement.

1st = 112 _librae_.

2nd = 64 "

3rd = 32 "

4th = 16 "

5th = 8 "

6th = 4 "

7th = 2 "

8th = 1 "

9th = 1 _selibra_ or sixteen _semunciae_.

10th = 8 _semunciae_.

11th = 4 "

12th = 2 "

13th = 1 "

As for the _selibra_ of the lesser weights, which our people, as I have often said, call a _mark_, and the Romans call a _bes_, coiners who coin gold, divide it just like the greater weights scale, into twenty-four units of two _s.e.xtulae_ each, and each unit of two _s.e.xtulae_ is divided into four _semi-s.e.xtulae_ and each _semi-s.e.xtula_ into three units of four _siliquae_ each. Some also divide the separate units of four _siliquae_ into four individual _siliquae_, but most, omitting the _semi-s.e.xtulae_, then divide the double _s.e.xtula_ into twelve units of four _siliquae_ each, and do not divide these into four individual _siliquae_. Thus the first and greatest unit of measurement, which is the _bes_, weighs twenty-four double _s.e.xtulae_.

The 2nd = 12 double _s.e.xtulae_.

" 3rd = 6 " "

" 4th = 3 " "

" 5th = 2 " "

" 6th = 1 " "

" 7th = 2 _semi-s.e.xtulae_ or four _semi-s.e.xtulae_.

" 8th = 1 _semi-s.e.xtula_ or 3 units of 4 _siliquae_ each.

" 9th = 2 units of four _siliquae_ each.

" 10th = 1 " " "

Coiners who mint silver also divide the _bes_ of the lesser weights in the same way as the greater weights; our people, indeed, divide it into sixteen _semunciae_, and the _semuncia_ into eighteen units of four _siliquae_ each.

There are ten weights which are placed in the other pan of the balance, when they weigh the silver which remains from the copper that has been consumed, when they a.s.say the alloy with fire.

The 1st = 16 _semunciae_ = 1 _bes_.

" 2nd = 8 "

" 3rd = 4 "

" 4th = 2 "

" 5th = 1 " or 18 units of 4 _siliquae_ each.

" 6th = 9 units of 4 _siliquae_ each.

" 7th = 6 " "

" 8th = 3 " "

" 9th = 2 " "

" 10th = 1 " "

The coiners of Nuremberg who mint silver, divide the _bes_ into sixteen _semunciae_, but divide the _semuncia_ into four _drachmae_, and the _drachma_ into four _pfennige_. They employ nine weights.

The 1st = 16 _semunciae_.

" 2nd = 8 "

" 3rd = 4 "

" 4th = 2 "

" 5th = 1 "

For they divide the _bes_ in the same way as our own people, but since they divide the _semuncia_ into four _drachmae_,

the 6th weight = 2 _drachmae_.

" 7th " = 1 _drachma_ or 4 _pfennige_.

" 8th " = 2 _pfennige_.

" 9th " = 1 _pfennig_.

The men of Cologne and Antwerp[43] divide the _bes_ into twelve units of five _drachmae_ and one _scripulum_, which weights they call _nummi_.

Each of these they again divide into twenty-four units of four _siliquae_ each, which they call _grenlins_. They have ten weights, of which

the 1st = 12 _nummi_ = 1 _bes_.

" 2nd = 6 "

" 3rd = 3 "