Convert Pound (Troy) (lb t) to Bekan (Biblical Hebrew) (bekan) instantly.
About these units
Pound (Troy) (lb t)
The troy pound, equal to 12 troy ounces or 373.2417216 grams, is used almost exclusively in the precious metals trade. Unlike the avoirdupois pound used for everyday goods (16 ounces), the troy pound is optimized for precious materials such as gold, silver, and platinum. This system's origins trace back to medieval trade fairs in Troyes, France, a major commercial hub. Merchants needed a consistent unit to prevent fraud and facilitate international trading, especially for valuable metals. Today, although rarely encountered by the general public, the troy pound remains fundamental in metals pricing, refining, and numismatics. It provides continuity in a highly traditional economic sector where consistency over centuries is crucial.
Bekan (Biblical Hebrew) (bekan)
The bekan (or beka) is a half-shekel unit, approximately 5.6 grams. It appears in the Hebrew Bible as the required contribution for the census tax, symbolizing equality among contributors regardless of wealth. As a practical unit, the beka was useful for small-scale offerings, jewelry, and silverwork. Its precise half-shekel value made it easy to incorporate into the larger Hebrew weight structure. The bekan highlights how weights were intertwined with religious observance and communal obligations in ancient Israelite society.