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TheCologne mark is an obsolete unit of weight (or mass) equivalent to 233.856grams (about 3,609grains). The Cologne mark was in use from the 11th century onward. It came to be used as the base unit for a number of currency standards, including the Lübeck monetary system, which was important in northern Europe in the lateMiddle Ages, and the coinage systems of theHoly Roman Empire, most significantly the 1754conventionsthaler, defined as1⁄10 of a Cologne mark. The conventionsthaler replaced thereichsthaler,1⁄9 of a Cologne mark.
The mark is defined as half a ColognePfund (pound). APfund is divided into 16Unzen (ounces) of 29.23 grams (about 451 grains). EachUnze is subdivided into 2Lote, 8Quentchen, and 32Pfennige.[1] This ounce is the basis of several other pounds, including in England theTower pound (12 ounces), the merchant's pound (15 ounces), and the London pound (16 ounces).[2]
The ColognePfund (2 marks) should not be confused with thePfund of around 350 grams, 5400 grains, used in the Nurembergapothecaries' system (Apothekergewicht), and is approximately equal to the old Tower pound (1+1⁄2 marks). ThisPfund has 12Unzen, each of which contains 36Gran, with theGran equal to 0.812 grams (about 12.53 grains).[1]
Throughout Europe, different variants of the Cologne mark have been used. InCastile, a Cologne mark of 230 grams was used since medieval times.[3]In the late Middle Ages,Portugal used local variants of the marks of Cologne (Colonha) and Troyes (Tria), the first for coinage and precious metals and the second forhaver-de-peso (avoirdupois). In mid-15th century, these marks were rounded to establish a relation of 14:13 between the Portuguese variants of Cologne and Troyes, leading to metric equivalences of 228.9 grams and 246.5 grams, respectively.[4]In modern times, the Portuguese mark of Cologne drifted towards 229.5 grams.
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