How to Understand Troy Ounces of Gold, Platinum and Silver

Platinum, gold and silver are measured using troy ounces.

Platinum, gold and silver are not measured in the same ounce weights that food and other items are measured with. Troy ounces are heavier. A troy ounce weighs more than an ounce of sugar from the grocery store. They are two different systems of measuring. Precious metals like gold, silver and platinum are measured in troy ounces. This dates back to the middle ages. The name comes from Troyes, France. If you invest in or sell precious metal jewelry or other items you need to know the difference.

Instructions

1. There are 12 troy ounces in a troy pound. There are 16 ounces in the pound that we measure commodities like sugar and salt or meat and produce with. The common ounce is called an avoirdupois ounce. There are 14 7/12 ounces in a standard avoirdupois pound.

2. If you need to convert ounces to troy ounces, you multiply the weight in ounces by .911 to equal troy ounces. Gold bars and silver coins are bought and sold in troy ounces.

3. Other things measured in troy ounces are bullets and gun powder. A troy ounce is 480 grains if measuring gun powder. It was also used in old world apothecaries in the measurement of herbs and medicine. This can be vital if looking at old herbal remedy books. Medicine has since switched to milligrams, which is easier for small amounts and safer as a standard weight.

References

• Troy Ounce: What is a Troy Ounce?