Carat (mass) g or possibly up to 5 g less. Therefore, the metric equivalent of 1 "siliqua" was approximately 189 mg. The Greeks had a similar unit of the same value. Gold fineness in carats comes from carats and grains of gold in a solidus of coin. The conversion rates 1 solidus = 24 carats, 1 carat = 4 grains still stand. Woolhouse's "Measures, Weights and Moneys of all Nations" gives gold fineness in carats of 4 grains, and silver in pounds of 12 troy ounces of 20 pennyweight each. Carat (mass) The carat (ct) (not to be confused with the karat,
English units of a grain seed from the middle of an ear of barley. There also was a smaller "wheat grain", said to be (barley) grains or about 48.6 milligrams. The avoirdupois pound contained 7,000 grains and was used for all products not subject to Apothecaries's or Tower weight. Additions: The Troy and Tower pounds and their subdivisions were used for coins and precious metals. The Tower pound, which was based upon an earlier Anglo-Saxon pound, was replaced by the Troy pound when a proclamation dated 1526 required the Troy pound to be used for mint purposes instead of the Tower pound.