Grzywna (unit)

The grzywna (Polish: [ˈɡʐɨvna]) was a measure of weight, mainly for silver, commonly used throughout medieval central and eastern Europe, particularly in the Kingdom of Poland and Kingdom of Bohemia (Czech: hřivna).

Silver ingots acted as commodity money before the widespread use of minted coins.

[1] In modern Polish, grzywna literally translates as fine (legal penalty).

In the 14th century, it was equal to 196.26 g, while in the beginning of the 16th century in weighed 197.684 g, but after 1558 it was equivalent to 201.802 g and after 1650 it was 201.86 g. The Kraków grzywna was subdivided thus: 4 wiarduneks or quarters = 8 ounces = 16 drams = 24 skojecs = 96 grains = 240 denarii = 480 obols As a measure of unit of exchange, the Kraków grzywna was equal to 48 Prague groschen.

During the rule of Władysław I the Elbow-high 576 denarii were struck from one Kraków grzywna of silver.