L. just drew my attention to this passage from Livy: https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/From_the_Founding_of_the_City/Book_5 see section 48 As he notes, this indicates that the “Gauls” had their own weight standard – that was heavier than Roman. The only physical weights I know of from “Celtic” Europe are the pair from Manching (again thanks to L.) which seem to point to the Persian c. 500g mina. Of course - as I long pointed ago - most Republican coins seem to follow what we today call the troy apothecaries drachm - an eighth of a “Persian ounce” c. 3.9g. Further – there seems to be a strong nationalist/propagandistic element to this story in Livy, tied to foundational matters to do with Roman national pride. That might help us understand the grossly unsatisfactory accounts of Roman metrology given later by Maecianus and Favinus. Anyone unhappy with the notion that Livy, Maecianus and Favinus are leading or being themselves led by the nose over such matters for propagandistic reasons, ought to consider the relevant 21st century Wiki page. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Rome In the Wiki text the 1,000 lb is translated as if the Gauls used US customary (450 KG)! Then a footnote contradicts this and suggests the (obviously false) claim that the Gaulish demand was c. 326 KG. Meanwhile the admittedly scanty real evidence points to 500 KG. So its not just the Romans who get their knickers in a twist over such matters. (But sadly I know from long experience that attempting to analyse such matters on the basis of known facts will likely get one called “a troll” in these oh so politically correct days). Veritas Odium Parit?
