Set of Exchequer standard Avoirdupois bronze weights, 1582-1588

Made:
1582-1588 in London and England

Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights from 56lb to 1lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles: 28 and 14lb marked "1582" and 7,4,2 and 1lb marked "1588". All marked "Elizabeth Regina, date, - Pounde: Averdepoiz" with a crown over E

Set of seven bronze weights made between 1582 and 1588 at the command of Elizabeth I, Queen of England, 1533-1603 as primary standards for England. Copies of these Exchequer standards were issued to 43 boroughs in England to encourage and enforce fair trade in commerce. They were the third set of weights produced for this purpose as earlier examples proved defective. In England, materials other than precious metals were weighed using the Avoirdupois system based on a pound of 16 ounces containing 7,000 grains. These weights remained the primary standards until 1824 when they were superseded by more accurate mass standards.

Details

Category:
Weighing & Measuring
Object Number:
1931-946
Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
type:
weights, weights (avoirdupois) and standard weights
credit:
Board of Trade

Parts

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 56lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1582.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt1
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 28lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1582.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt2
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 14lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1582.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt3
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 7lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1558.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt4
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 4lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1558.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt5
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 2lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1558.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt6
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)
Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

Queen Elizabeth's Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weight

One of Queen Elizabeth's third set of 7 Exchequer standard avoirdupois bronze weights 1lb, bell-shaped with solid loop handles, 1558.

Materials:
bronze (copper, tin alloy)
Object Number:
1931-946 Pt7
type:
avoirdupois weight (standard)