Mithqal
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Mithqāl (Template:Langx) is a unit of mass equal to Script error: No such module "convert". which is mostly used for measuring precious metals, such as gold, and other commodities, like saffron.
The name was also applied as an alternative term for the gold dinar, a coin that was used throughout much of the Islamic world from the 8th century onward and survived in parts of Africa until the 19th century.[1] The name of Mozambique's currency since 1980, the metical, is derived from mithqāl.[2]
Etymology
The word mithqāl (Template:Langx; “weight, unit of weight”) comes from the Arabic thaqala (ثقل), meaning “to weigh” (cf. Template:Langx). Other variants of the unit in English include miskal (from Persian or Urdu مثقال; misqāl), mithkal, mitkal and mitqal.
Indian mithqaal
In India, the measurement is known as mithqaal. It contains 4 Script error: No such module "lang". and 3½ Script error: No such module "lang". (rata'ii; مثقال).[3]
It is equivalent to 4.25 grams when measuring gold,[4] or 4.5 grams when measuring commodities.[5] It may be more or less than this.[6]
Nikki mithqal
A gold coin minted in Nikki, Benin and known as the mithqal was in wide circulation in West Africa in the 18th century, particularly the Niger bend. It was useable in the trans-Saharan trade and coexisted with the use of cowries as shell money.[7]
Conversion factors
| Unit | Mithqāl | Gold dinar | Dirham | Gram | Troy ounce | Ounce | Grain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mithqāl | 1 | 1 | 0.70 | 4.25 | 0.13664 | 0.14991 | 65.5875 |
The mithqāl in another more modern calculation is as follows:
| Unit | Mithqāl | Nākhud | Gram | Troy ounce |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mithqāl | 1 | 19 | 3.642 | 0.117 |
Nakhud is a Baháʼí unit of mass used by Bahá'u'lláh.[8] The mithqāl had originally consisted of 24 nakhuds, but in the Bayán, the collective works of the Báb, this was reduced to 19.[9]
See also
References
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- ↑ "Metical" Template:Webarchive in Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa com Acordo Ortográfico. Porto: Porto Editora, 2003-2015. Accessed 1 April 2015. Template:In lang
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