Zolotnik Zolotnik A zolotnik (in Russian: золотни́к; abbr.: zol.) was a small Russian unit of weight, equal to 0.1505 avoirdupois ounces, or 4.2658 grams (about 65.83 grains). Used from the 10th to 20th centuries, its name is derived from the Russian word "zoloto", meaning gold. As a unit, the zolotnik was the standard for silver manufacture, much as the troy ounce is currently used for gold and other precious metals. This unit was originally based on a coin of the same name. The zolotnik circulated in the Kievan Rus until the 11th century; it was equal in weight to the Byzantine
Trade during the Viking Age so there was no danger of them being rearranged or switched during the course of an exchange. Estimated exchange rates at the beginning of the 11th century in Iceland were: If the weight of a piece of jewelry was more than needed to complete a purchase, it was cut up into smaller bits until the correct weight needed for the transaction was reached. The term hack silver is used to describe these silver objects. Silver ingots were primarily used for large/high-value transactions. The largest found weights weigh more than 1 kilogram each. Precious metals were also used to display personal