A “small gross” may sound peculiar in the world of measurements, yet it holds a significant niche in the realm of counting. A small gross equals 120 units, serving as a fascinating intermediate between a dozen and a gross. This unit reflects the duodecimal system’s influence, a base-12 number system used historically in trade and counting, particularly before the widespread adoption of the decimal system. While its usage is rarer today, it was once quite practical for merchandise packaging and bulk items, highlighting humanity’s penchant for diverse mathematical solutions in different eras. Rediscovering units like the small gross bridges the gap between historical trade practices and modern numerical systems, shedding light on how societies have quantified goods across centuries.
The “Long Hundred,” also known as a “Great Hundred,” might perplex many today as it stands at 120, instead of the standard 100. Rooted in historical and linguistic evolution, this ancient counting system was prevalent in Northern Europe, notably England and Germany, during the Middle Ages. This unconventional unit was used in various contexts, especially in calculations involving large quantities, such as trade goods or livestock. The Long Hundred illuminates how numbers were historically adapted to meet specific community needs and showcases the fluidity of numerical systems. As societies developed standardized counting methods, such unique units gradually fell out of use, yet they remind us of the rich tapestry of historical numeral lore.
| Small Gross | Long Hundred |
|---|---|
0
sm-gr
|
0
long-hundred
|
0.5
sm-gr
|
0.5
long-hundred
|
1
sm-gr
|
1
long-hundred
|
1.5
sm-gr
|
1.5
long-hundred
|
2
sm-gr
|
2
long-hundred
|
2.5
sm-gr
|
2.5
long-hundred
|
3
sm-gr
|
3
long-hundred
|
3.5
sm-gr
|
3.5
long-hundred
|
4
sm-gr
|
4
long-hundred
|
4.5
sm-gr
|
4.5
long-hundred
|
5
sm-gr
|
5
long-hundred
|
5.5
sm-gr
|
5.5
long-hundred
|
6
sm-gr
|
6
long-hundred
|
6.5
sm-gr
|
6.5
long-hundred
|
7
sm-gr
|
7
long-hundred
|
7.5
sm-gr
|
7.5
long-hundred
|
8
sm-gr
|
8
long-hundred
|
8.5
sm-gr
|
8.5
long-hundred
|
9
sm-gr
|
9
long-hundred
|
9.5
sm-gr
|
9.5
long-hundred
|
10
sm-gr
|
10
long-hundred
|
10.5
sm-gr
|
10.5
long-hundred
|
11
sm-gr
|
11
long-hundred
|
11.5
sm-gr
|
11.5
long-hundred
|
12
sm-gr
|
12
long-hundred
|
12.5
sm-gr
|
12.5
long-hundred
|
13
sm-gr
|
13
long-hundred
|
13.5
sm-gr
|
13.5
long-hundred
|
14
sm-gr
|
14
long-hundred
|
14.5
sm-gr
|
14.5
long-hundred
|
15
sm-gr
|
15
long-hundred
|
15.5
sm-gr
|
15.5
long-hundred
|
16
sm-gr
|
16
long-hundred
|
16.5
sm-gr
|
16.5
long-hundred
|
17
sm-gr
|
17
long-hundred
|
17.5
sm-gr
|
17.5
long-hundred
|
18
sm-gr
|
18
long-hundred
|
18.5
sm-gr
|
18.5
long-hundred
|
19
sm-gr
|
19
long-hundred
|
19.5
sm-gr
|
19.5
long-hundred
|
20
sm-gr
|
20
long-hundred
|
20.5
sm-gr
|
20.5
long-hundred
|
21
sm-gr
|
21
long-hundred
|
21.5
sm-gr
|
21.5
long-hundred
|
22
sm-gr
|
22
long-hundred
|
22.5
sm-gr
|
22.5
long-hundred
|
23
sm-gr
|
23
long-hundred
|
23.5
sm-gr
|
23.5
long-hundred
|
24
sm-gr
|
24
long-hundred
|
24.5
sm-gr
|
24.5
long-hundred
|
25
sm-gr
|
25
long-hundred
|
25.5
sm-gr
|
25.5
long-hundred
|
26
sm-gr
|
26
long-hundred
|
26.5
sm-gr
|
26.5
long-hundred
|
27
sm-gr
|
27
long-hundred
|
27.5
sm-gr
|
27.5
long-hundred
|
28
sm-gr
|
28
long-hundred
|
28.5
sm-gr
|
28.5
long-hundred
|
29
sm-gr
|
29
long-hundred
|
29.5
sm-gr
|
29.5
long-hundred
|
30
sm-gr
|
30
long-hundred
|
30.5
sm-gr
|
30.5
long-hundred
|
31
sm-gr
|
31
long-hundred
|
31.5
sm-gr
|
31.5
long-hundred
|
32
sm-gr
|
32
long-hundred
|
32.5
sm-gr
|
32.5
long-hundred
|
33
sm-gr
|
33
long-hundred
|
33.5
sm-gr
|
33.5
long-hundred
|
34
sm-gr
|
34
long-hundred
|
34.5
sm-gr
|
34.5
long-hundred
|
35
sm-gr
|
35
long-hundred
|
35.5
sm-gr
|
35.5
long-hundred
|
36
sm-gr
|
36
long-hundred
|
36.5
sm-gr
|
36.5
long-hundred
|
37
sm-gr
|
37
long-hundred
|
37.5
sm-gr
|
37.5
long-hundred
|
38
sm-gr
|
38
long-hundred
|
38.5
sm-gr
|
38.5
long-hundred
|
39
sm-gr
|
39
long-hundred
|
39.5
sm-gr
|
39.5
long-hundred
|
40
sm-gr
|
40
long-hundred
|
40.5
sm-gr
|
40.5
long-hundred
|
41
sm-gr
|
41
long-hundred
|
41.5
sm-gr
|
41.5
long-hundred
|
42
sm-gr
|
42
long-hundred
|
42.5
sm-gr
|
42.5
long-hundred
|
43
sm-gr
|
43
long-hundred
|
43.5
sm-gr
|
43.5
long-hundred
|
44
sm-gr
|
44
long-hundred
|
44.5
sm-gr
|
44.5
long-hundred
|
45
sm-gr
|
45
long-hundred
|
45.5
sm-gr
|
45.5
long-hundred
|
46
sm-gr
|
46
long-hundred
|
46.5
sm-gr
|
46.5
long-hundred
|
47
sm-gr
|
47
long-hundred
|
47.5
sm-gr
|
47.5
long-hundred
|
48
sm-gr
|
48
long-hundred
|
48.5
sm-gr
|
48.5
long-hundred
|
49
sm-gr
|
49
long-hundred
|
49.5
sm-gr
|
49.5
long-hundred
|
50
sm-gr
|
50
long-hundred
|
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