Weight doesn't tell you the volume. One pound of air, one pound of water, and one pound of gold all have vastly different volumes.
A pound of gold and a pound of cotton weigh the same because they both weigh one pound. The difference lies in their volume and value, as gold is much denser and more valuable than cotton.
A pound of gold weighs the same as a pound of silver, because they are both one pound. But a block of gold would weigh more than the same-sized block of silver (gold is more dense than silver, so a smaller volume weighs the same).
one pound
Examining the question for some aspects of gold and meat: 1. A solid block of one Avoirdupois pound of each substance would not be the same size in area or volume. 2. They would be the same weight if both were weighed in Avoirdupois ounces or pounds. However gold is customarily weighed in Troy ounces/pounds which are slightly heavier than the equivalent Avoirdupois weight. 3. Marx in "Capital" would argue that one pound of gold could equal one pound of meat if the market accepts them as having similar value.
how much salt to equal one pound of gold
1 pound of gold costs 26,400$ for 2012.
As I type this the value of 1 pound of gold is $18,040.00
There are 8 grams in one pound of gold.
1 pound (troy or apothecary) = 0.823 avoirdupois pounds.
Since the value of gold is by weight 1 lb of gold is worth more than 1/2 lb of gold by definition. The fact that there are more coins is irrelevant.
A pound of gold weighs the same as a pound of cotton. The difference lies in the density and volume of the two materials. Gold is denser and takes up less space, making it more valuable by weight compared to cotton.