Convert Assarion (Biblical Roman) (assarion) to Pennyweight (pwt) instantly.
About these units
Assarion (Biblical Roman) (assarion)
The assarion, worth 1/16 of a denarius and weighing roughly 0.25 grams, was one of the smallest Roman coins. It appears in biblical writings to illustrate humility or trivial monetary values ("Are not two sparrows sold for an assarion?"), giving cultural insight into economic metaphors of the time. As a weight, the assarion shows how finely Roman society subdivided monetary units for everyday commerce.
Pennyweight (pwt)
The pennyweight, equal to 1/20 of a troy ounce or 1.55517384 grams, is a unit used primarily in the precious metals and jewelry industries. Its origins lie in medieval English coinage, when the weight of silver pennies provided a practical standard for small masses. Jewelers continue to use the pennyweight because many traditional pricing structures and metalworking conventions are built around troy-based subdivisions. For gold, silver, and dental alloys, the pennyweight remains easier to work with than grams due to long-established norms. Even though the metric system is now dominant scientifically, the pennyweight persists because industries tied to history—especially those involving money and precious goods—tend to maintain deeply rooted practices.