The Great Gross is a fascinating old-world unit of measure that might surprise many with its sheer scale. Representing 12 Gross (or 144 dozens), a Great Gross equals a whopping 1,728 individual items! Used historically in wholesale trade, especially during the medieval and early modern periods in Europe, this unit provided efficiency in large-scale commerce, allowing for easy calculation and transaction in bulk goods like candles, eggs, or textiles.
While not commonly used in modern trade, the Great Gross underscores historical trade practices and quantification in a world before digital analytics. Imagine being a merchant in a bustling market, selling your goods in Great Grosses—an image that conjures the vibrant rhythms of bygone eras and highlights the evolution of our measurement systems over time.
The concept of a dozen, representing the number 12, dates back to ancient civilizations, where it was favored for its divisibility. Twelve can be divided evenly into halves, thirds, and quarters, making it extremely useful for trade and distribution. This efficiency explains its prominence in selling items like eggs, pastries, and even flowers, which are often still grouped in dozens today.
Interestingly, the dozen has transcended its original purpose to influence language and culture. Expressions such as “a baker’s dozen,” which refers to 13, emerged from the medieval practice where bakers would add an extra loaf to a batch of 12 to avoid penalties for selling underweight bread. Through such trivia, the dozen showcases its significant role in both commerce and everyday life.
| Great Gross | Dozens |
|---|---|
0
gr-gr
|
0
doz
|
0.5
gr-gr
|
72
doz
|
1
gr-gr
|
144
doz
|
1.5
gr-gr
|
216
doz
|
2
gr-gr
|
288
doz
|
2.5
gr-gr
|
360
doz
|
3
gr-gr
|
432
doz
|
3.5
gr-gr
|
504
doz
|
4
gr-gr
|
576
doz
|
4.5
gr-gr
|
648
doz
|
5
gr-gr
|
720
doz
|
5.5
gr-gr
|
792
doz
|
6
gr-gr
|
864
doz
|
6.5
gr-gr
|
936
doz
|
7
gr-gr
|
1008
doz
|
7.5
gr-gr
|
1080
doz
|
8
gr-gr
|
1152
doz
|
8.5
gr-gr
|
1224
doz
|
9
gr-gr
|
1296
doz
|
9.5
gr-gr
|
1368
doz
|
10
gr-gr
|
1440
doz
|
10.5
gr-gr
|
1512
doz
|
11
gr-gr
|
1584
doz
|
11.5
gr-gr
|
1656
doz
|
12
gr-gr
|
1728
doz
|
12.5
gr-gr
|
1800
doz
|
13
gr-gr
|
1872
doz
|
13.5
gr-gr
|
1944
doz
|
14
gr-gr
|
2016
doz
|
14.5
gr-gr
|
2088
doz
|
15
gr-gr
|
2160
doz
|
15.5
gr-gr
|
2232
doz
|
16
gr-gr
|
2304
doz
|
16.5
gr-gr
|
2376
doz
|
17
gr-gr
|
2448
doz
|
17.5
gr-gr
|
2520
doz
|
18
gr-gr
|
2592
doz
|
18.5
gr-gr
|
2664
doz
|
19
gr-gr
|
2736
doz
|
19.5
gr-gr
|
2808
doz
|
20
gr-gr
|
2880
doz
|
20.5
gr-gr
|
2952
doz
|
21
gr-gr
|
3024
doz
|
21.5
gr-gr
|
3096
doz
|
22
gr-gr
|
3168
doz
|
22.5
gr-gr
|
3240
doz
|
23
gr-gr
|
3312
doz
|
23.5
gr-gr
|
3384
doz
|
24
gr-gr
|
3456
doz
|
24.5
gr-gr
|
3528
doz
|
25
gr-gr
|
3600
doz
|
25.5
gr-gr
|
3672
doz
|
26
gr-gr
|
3744
doz
|
26.5
gr-gr
|
3816
doz
|
27
gr-gr
|
3888
doz
|
27.5
gr-gr
|
3960
doz
|
28
gr-gr
|
4032
doz
|
28.5
gr-gr
|
4104
doz
|
29
gr-gr
|
4176
doz
|
29.5
gr-gr
|
4248
doz
|
30
gr-gr
|
4320
doz
|
30.5
gr-gr
|
4392
doz
|
31
gr-gr
|
4464
doz
|
31.5
gr-gr
|
4536
doz
|
32
gr-gr
|
4608
doz
|
32.5
gr-gr
|
4680
doz
|
33
gr-gr
|
4752
doz
|
33.5
gr-gr
|
4824
doz
|
34
gr-gr
|
4896
doz
|
34.5
gr-gr
|
4968
doz
|
35
gr-gr
|
5040
doz
|
35.5
gr-gr
|
5112
doz
|
36
gr-gr
|
5184
doz
|
36.5
gr-gr
|
5256
doz
|
37
gr-gr
|
5328
doz
|
37.5
gr-gr
|
5400
doz
|
38
gr-gr
|
5472
doz
|
38.5
gr-gr
|
5544
doz
|
39
gr-gr
|
5616
doz
|
39.5
gr-gr
|
5688
doz
|
40
gr-gr
|
5760
doz
|
40.5
gr-gr
|
5832
doz
|
41
gr-gr
|
5904
doz
|
41.5
gr-gr
|
5976
doz
|
42
gr-gr
|
6048
doz
|
42.5
gr-gr
|
6120
doz
|
43
gr-gr
|
6192
doz
|
43.5
gr-gr
|
6264
doz
|
44
gr-gr
|
6336
doz
|
44.5
gr-gr
|
6408
doz
|
45
gr-gr
|
6480
doz
|
45.5
gr-gr
|
6552
doz
|
46
gr-gr
|
6624
doz
|
46.5
gr-gr
|
6696
doz
|
47
gr-gr
|
6768
doz
|
47.5
gr-gr
|
6840
doz
|
48
gr-gr
|
6912
doz
|
48.5
gr-gr
|
6984
doz
|
49
gr-gr
|
7056
doz
|
49.5
gr-gr
|
7128
doz
|
50
gr-gr
|
7200
doz
|
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