Peggio

In the Republic of Venice, the Peggio (in Italian “the worst”) was a quantified indication of the quality of an invaluable alloy. In fact this number expressed a report/ratio, in relation to the Carat.

There are two " carats" :

1. the carat of quality (24 carats = 100% of end; 18 carats = 75% of end and complementary alloy 25%)

2. the carat of weight: in Venice = 0,207 G.

The " peggio" was defined as from the 16th century by the République of Venice to estimate the titles of the noble metals, intended for goldsmithery or the currency. The calculation of the " peggio" a relationship between the carat of 0,207 G and the marc of 238,499 G established. There are 1152 carats in a marc. It is consequently enough to regard as bases calculation the relationship between the figure announced (example: peggio 206 ) and 1152 carats of the unit of reference.

“… this is why, for the important parts, remains in force the “peggio” of 206 carats per marc, in order to be able to carry out them with the same smoothness as abroad. ” (ref. Files of State of Venice, Inquisitori in Zecca , reg. n°64, decree of January 29th, 1754.) Alloy 206 to which refers the quoted text is equivalent to a metal containing 946 parts of fine gold and 206 of alloy 2/3 money - 1/3 copper, in other words a metal containing 821/1000 or, if one wants, 19,71 carats (out of 24).

In Venice, the authorized titles are of rather reduced number: 108,128,206,270,340. They are used according to metal (gold or money) and of the weight of the object concerned, this list not including the " remède" authorized for the only weldings, requiring a more robust alloy, which was to be " of tierce" di terza : three parts of gold and one of copper.

See too

Random links: