Mark (unit)
The Mark is originally a medieval weight or mass unit, which supplanted the pound weight as a precious metals and coinage weight from the 11th century. The Mark is traditionally a half pound weight and was usually divided into 8 ounces or 16 lots. The Cologne mark corresponded to about 234 grams.
Like the German systems, the French poids de marc weight system considered one "Marc" equal to half a pound.
Just as the pound of 12 troy ounces lent its name to the pound unit of currency, the mark lent its name to the mark unit of currency.
