# Carats to Troy Pounds (ct to lb t) Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/carats-to-troy-pounds/ **1 ct = 0.0005358457761438 lb t** One carat equals approximately 0.0005358 troy pounds. The troy pound (373.242 grams or 12 troy ounces) is an archaic precious metals unit, smaller than the common avoirdupois pound (453.592 grams). Each troy pound contains approximately 1,866 carats. While the troy ounce survives in active use, the troy pound itself is largely obsolete, replaced by troy ounces and grams in modern bullion markets. ## Formula Apply the conversion factor ## Conversion Table | Carats (ct) | Troy Pounds (lb t) | |---|---| | 1 ct | 0.0005358457761438 lb t | | 5 ct | 0.002679228880719 lb t | | 10 ct | 0.005358457761438 lb t | | 50 ct | 0.02679228880719 lb t | | 100 ct | 0.05358457761438 lb t | | 500 ct | 0.2679228880719 lb t | | 1000 ct | 0.5358457761438 lb t | | 2500 ct | 1.3396144403595 lb t | | 5000 ct | 2.679228880719 lb t | | 10000 ct | 5.358457761438 lb t | | 25000 ct | 13.396144403595 lb t | | 50000 ct | 26.79228880719 lb t | ## Units ### Carat (ct) A carat is a unit of mass equal to exactly 200 milligrams (0.2 grams), used for measuring gemstones and pearls. Adopted internationally in 1907 by the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures. ### Troy Pound (lb t) A troy pound equals 12 troy ounces or 5,760 grains (373.2417216 grams). It is lighter than the avoirdupois pound and is rarely used today outside of historical contexts. ## Background The troy pound was historically used for pricing bulk quantities of precious metals. Gold and silver bars were weighed in troy pounds before the modern convention of quoting per troy ounce took over. A troy pound of gold (12 troy ounces) at current prices would be worth roughly 24,000 dollars. A troy pound of diamonds (1,866 carats) would be worth vastly more, potentially tens of millions depending on quality. ## Good to Know The troy pound's 12-ounce structure descends directly from the Roman libra (12 unciae), which also gave us the abbreviation 'lb' for pound and the pound sign. The avoirdupois pound's 16-ounce structure was a later medieval innovation for commodity trade. The coexistence of these two 'pounds' of different weights with different numbers of differently-sized 'ounces' is perhaps the single most confusing aspect of the English weight system. ## FAQ ### How many carats are in one troy pound? One troy pound (373.242 grams) equals approximately 1,866.2 carats. This comes from dividing 373.242 grams by 0.2 grams per carat. ### How does the troy pound differ from the regular pound? The troy pound (373.242 g) is lighter than the avoirdupois pound (453.592 g) by about 80 grams. The troy pound has 12 troy ounces, while the avoirdupois pound has 16 regular ounces. Despite the troy ounce being heavier than the avoirdupois ounce, the troy pound ends up lighter because it has fewer ounces. ### Is the troy pound still used? The troy pound is essentially obsolete. Even the precious metals industry now uses troy ounces, grams, or kilograms rather than troy pounds. The unit survives mainly in legal definitions and historical references. US law still defines the troy pound but it has no practical application. ## Non-Frequently Asked Questions ### Is a troy pound of gold worth more or less than a common pound of feathers? A troy pound of gold (373 grams) at mid-2020s prices is worth roughly 24,000 dollars. A common pound of feathers (454 grams) is worth a few dollars at most. The feathers weigh more but are worth incomparably less. This is the rare case where the lighter thing is astronomically more valuable. ### Why does the troy pound have 12 ounces instead of 16? The troy system predates the avoirdupois system and was based on the Roman libra of 12 unciae (ounces). When the avoirdupois system was introduced for common goods, it used 16 ounces per pound to better suit bulk trade. The precious metals industry kept the older 12-ounce pound. Two parallel systems, both called 'pounds,' with different numbers of 'ounces' - it is the sort of thing that keeps measurement historians employed. ### If the troy pound is obsolete, why is it still defined in US law? Because no one has bothered to remove it. The US Mint Act of 1792 defined the troy pound, and while it has been superseded in practice, repealing old measurement laws is nobody's legislative priority. 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