Posted 08/16/2014 10:58 am
In the avoirdupois system, the dram is the mass of 1⁄256 pound or 1⁄16 ounce
The dram weighs 875⁄32 grains or exactly 1.7718451953125 grams.
In the apothecaries' system, which was widely used in the United States until the middle of the 20th century, the dram is the mass of 1⁄96 pounds apothecaries (lb ap), or 1⁄8 ounces apothecaries.
The pound apothecaries and ounce apothecaries are equal to the troy pound (lb t), and troy ounce (oz t), respectively.
The dram apothecaries is equal to 3 scruples (s ap or ℈) or 60 grains (gr), or exactly 3.8879346 grams.
So, I'll guess that the "3s" on your "token" means "3 scruples"
But, I agree with Sel that this is a weight, for use as a comparison, on a scale.
Scale-weights, and scales themselves, are an interesting area to collect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drachm
The dram weighs 875⁄32 grains or exactly 1.7718451953125 grams.
In the apothecaries' system, which was widely used in the United States until the middle of the 20th century, the dram is the mass of 1⁄96 pounds apothecaries (lb ap), or 1⁄8 ounces apothecaries.
The pound apothecaries and ounce apothecaries are equal to the troy pound (lb t), and troy ounce (oz t), respectively.
The dram apothecaries is equal to 3 scruples (s ap or ℈) or 60 grains (gr), or exactly 3.8879346 grams.
So, I'll guess that the "3s" on your "token" means "3 scruples"
But, I agree with Sel that this is a weight, for use as a comparison, on a scale.
Scale-weights, and scales themselves, are an interesting area to collect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drachm
