Imperial and US customary measurement systems in 1824, to take effect in 1826) and United States customary units which evolved from English Units from 1776 onwards. The earliest records of English units of measure involve the weight (and therefore the value) of Saxon coins. The penny introduced by Offa was about 20 grains (1.296 g). Edward the Elder increased the weight of the English penny to 26 grains (1.685 g), thereby aligning it with the penny of Charlemagne. By the time of the Norman Conquest (1066), it had decreased to 24 grains (1.555 g). This value was subsequently called the "pennyweight" and formed the basis of
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.