the large distance mileposts ("distanzsäule") comprised seven elements. the pedestal was formed by the plinth, dado and cornice (or cap). the column consists of the base ("zwischenplatte" or "schaftfuß"), the shaft, a block sowing the coat of arms ("wappenstück"), and the finial ("aufsatz" or "spitze"). the columns have an average height of 8 ells (4.53 metres) and rest on a pedestal half an ell high. the individual elements were held together by means of iron pegs cast in lead. on the shaft of the column the names of the destinations were inscribed at zürner's direction in a fraktur font and based on the distance tables that had been worked out for each town. several routes crossed state borders, and this was indicated by the letters "gr" (for "grenze" or "border") or a horizontal line. part of the inscription on all columns was a post horn on all four sides, which was the emblem of the state's postal sovereignty. the arms of the electorate of saxony with a gilded crown and the polish royal crown with the royal polish-lithuanian coat of arms were shown on the superstructure.