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| Attic Tetradrachm 17.2g 5th Century BC, by Numismati |
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| Athenian Obol. After 449 BC Silver 0.72 grams |
Athens used a
currency which had as its principal unit the drachma. Their currency was used over a wide area of the Mediterranean because of the large trade network Athens had established. Frequently Athenian coins could be used in other Greek cities and did not have to be changed into the local currency. The Athenian monetary system had the following structure:-
Coinage8 chalkoi (“copper pieces”) = 1 obolus (“metal spit”)
6 oboloi (“metal spits”) = 1 drachma (“grasp” or “fistful”)
Units of Account
100 drachmae = 1 mina (or mna)
60 minae = 1 Athenian Talent (Athenian standard) (ca 25.8 kilograms of silver)
Greek Weights (Attic Standard)
Tetartemorion = ¼ obol ~0.18 gram
Obol = 0.72 gram
Drachma = 6 obols = 4.32 grams
Mina = 100 drachmai = 432 grams
Talanton = 60 minai = 25.86 kg
Number of Attic Drachmas (and Obols) per Attic Talent
ReferencesNumber of Attic Drachmas (and Obols) per Attic Talent
- 1 Attic talent = 60 minae
- 1 mina = 100 drachmae
- 1 drachma = 6 obols
So, to get the number of Drachmas in a Talent, one just multiplies the number of Minae per talent by the number of Drachmas per Mina: 60 Minae/Talent * 100 Drachmas/Mina = 6,000 Drachmas/Talent = 36,000 Obols per Attic Talent.
Ancient Greek coinage - Wikipedia
List of ancient Greek monetary standards - Wikipedia
The Athenian Empire: Using Coins as Sources - Lisa Kallet, John H. Kroll - Google Books
Kallet John H. Kroll The Athenian Empire Using Coins As Sources 2020 | PDF
Mines of Laurion - Wikipedia
The Origin of Metallic Currency and Weight Standards
By William Ridgeway Money and the Early Greek Mind: Homer, Philosophy, Tragedy - Richard Seaford - Google Books Money And The Early Greek Mind - Internet Archive Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece: Selected Essays - Richard Seaford - Google Books
Ancient Weights and Measures: Metrology for Numismatists | Mike Markowitz - Academia.edu
The Public Economy of Athens: to which is added, a dissertation on the silver mines of Laurion : Boeckh, August - Internet Archive
Metrologische untersuchungen über gewichte, münzfüsse und masse des alterthums in ihrem zusammenhange : Böckh, August - Internet Archive
Obol (coin) - Wikipedia
Obol - Athens – Numista
Obol - Athens – Numista
Greek drachma - Wikipedia
Drachma |-Greek currency - Britannica
Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Drachma - Wikisource,
Tetradrachm - Wikipedia
Mina (unit) - Wikipedia
Attic talent - Wikipedia
Stater - Wikipedia
Talent (measurement) - Wikipedia
Electrum - Wikipedia
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage - Google Books
The English Cyclopaedia. Talent: Bradbury, Evans. 1868. pp. 9–.
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage pp. 88- - Google Books
Greek Coins : Fowler, Harold North - Internet Archive
Ancient Greek coinage
War and Peace, Imitation and Innovation, Backwardness and Development: the Beginnings of Coinage in Ancient Greece and Lydia | David Schaps and David Schaps - Academia.edu
The invention of coinage and the monetization of ancient Greece: Schaps, David M - Internet Archive
A Cultural History of Money in Antiquity - Google Books
==============================
The Public Economy of Athens: to which is added, a dissertation on the silver mines of Laurion : Boeckh, August - Internet Archive
Metrologische untersuchungen über gewichte, münzfüsse und masse des alterthums in ihrem zusammenhange : Böckh, August - Internet Archive
Obol (coin) - Wikipedia
Obol - Athens – Numista
Obol - Athens – Numista
Greek drachma - Wikipedia
Drachma |-Greek currency - Britannica
Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Drachma - Wikisource,
Tetradrachm - Wikipedia
Mina (unit) - Wikipedia
Attic talent - Wikipedia
Stater - Wikipedia
Talent (measurement) - Wikipedia
Electrum - Wikipedia
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage - Google Books
The English Cyclopaedia. Talent: Bradbury, Evans. 1868. pp. 9–.
The Oxford Handbook of Greek and Roman Coinage pp. 88- - Google Books
Greek Coins : Fowler, Harold North - Internet Archive
Ancient Greek coinage
War and Peace, Imitation and Innovation, Backwardness and Development: the Beginnings of Coinage in Ancient Greece and Lydia | David Schaps and David Schaps - Academia.edu
The invention of coinage and the monetization of ancient Greece: Schaps, David M - Internet Archive
Ancient Greek Money and Coins
Plates of the British Museum Catalog
A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Attica, Megaris, Aegina B.V. Head 1888
Plates of the British Museum Catalog
A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum: Attica, Megaris, Aegina B.V. Head 1888
Digital Historia Numorum - A Manual of Greek Numismatics
Weights, Measures and Tokens
Mabel Lang and Margaret Crosby
The Athenian Agora
Vol. 10, Weights, Measures and Tokens (1964), pp. iii-v+vii+ix-xii+1-69+71-146 (190 pages)
Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
DOI: 10.2307/3601971
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3601971
Pierre-Henri Larcher (1844). Notes on Herodotus: Historical and Critical Remarks on the Nine Books of the History of Herodotus, with a Chronological Table. Section LXXXIX - p. 139: Whittaker. pp. 454–.9
Richard Seaford (11 March 2004). Money and the Early Greek Mind: Homer, Philosophy, Tragedy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-53992-0.
Money And The Early Greek Mind - Internet Archive
Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece - Google Books
Richard Seaford. (1998). Tragic Money. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 118, 119–139. https://doi.org/10.2307/632234 https://www.jstor.org/stable/632234
Glyn Davies (1 September 2010). History of Money. The Attic money standard: University of Wales Press. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-7083-2379-3.
Thomas Figueira (24 November 2010). The Power of Money: Coinage and Politics in the Athenian Empire. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-0190-6.
The Power of Money: Coinage and Politics in the Athenian Empire - Thomas Figueira - Google Books
Herodotus (17 April 2008). The Histories. OUP Oxford. pp. 593–. ISBN 978-0-19-162303-5.
PDF of THE ATHENIAN AGORA - John H. Kroll Vol. XXVI The Greek Coins
Sitta Von Reden (30 January 2003). Exchange in Ancient Greece. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-7156-3179-9.
The Greek Coins
John H. Kroll and Alan S. Walker
The Athenian Agora
Vol. 26, The Greek Coins (1993), pp. iii-v+vii-xxvi+1-295+297-333+335-355+357-376 (433 pages)
Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
DOI: 10.2307/3602004
Weights, Measures and Tokens
Mabel Lang and Margaret Crosby
The Athenian Agora
Vol. 10, Weights, Measures and Tokens (1964), pp. iii-v+vii+ix-xii+1-69+71-146 (190 pages)
Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
DOI: 10.2307/3601971
https://www.jstor.org/stable/3601971
Pierre-Henri Larcher (1844). Notes on Herodotus: Historical and Critical Remarks on the Nine Books of the History of Herodotus, with a Chronological Table. Section LXXXIX - p. 139: Whittaker. pp. 454–.9
Richard Seaford (11 March 2004). Money and the Early Greek Mind: Homer, Philosophy, Tragedy. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-53992-0.
Money And The Early Greek Mind - Internet Archive
Tragedy, Ritual and Money in Ancient Greece - Google Books
Richard Seaford. (1998). Tragic Money. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 118, 119–139. https://doi.org/10.2307/632234 https://www.jstor.org/stable/632234
Seaford, R. (2003). Dionysos, Money, and Drama. Arion: A Journal of Humanities and the Classics, 11(2), 1–19. https://www.jstor.org/stable/20163921
The birth of coinage
David Schaps (2004). The Invention of Coinage and the Monetization of Ancient Greece. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-11333-X.Glyn Davies (1 September 2010). History of Money. The Attic money standard: University of Wales Press. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-7083-2379-3.
Thomas Figueira (24 November 2010). The Power of Money: Coinage and Politics in the Athenian Empire. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-0190-6.
The Power of Money: Coinage and Politics in the Athenian Empire - Thomas Figueira - Google Books
Herodotus (17 April 2008). The Histories. OUP Oxford. pp. 593–. ISBN 978-0-19-162303-5.
PDF of THE ATHENIAN AGORA - John H. Kroll Vol. XXVI The Greek Coins
Sitta Von Reden (30 January 2003). Exchange in Ancient Greece. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 978-0-7156-3179-9.
PDF = https://www.academia.edu/27438950/Exchange_in_Ancient_Greece_1995_2003
Apercu Historique: Babelon, Ernest - Internet Archive
Les Monnaies d'Athènes, par E. Beulé (Beulé, Charles Ernest) - Internet Archive
THE REMINTING OF ATHENIAN SILVER COINAGE, 353 B.C.:
John H. Kroll
Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Vol. 80, No. 2 (April-June 2011), pp. 229-259 (32 pages)
Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
DOI: 10.2972/hesperia.80.2.0229
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.80.2.0229
ANS Numismatic Notes and Monographs, no. 168 : American Numismatic Society - Internet Archive
For comparative purposes
UK Victorian silver coinage [1816 to 1920 AD] was of .925 (sterling) standard, with silver coins being minted at the rate of 66 shillings to the troy pound weight. Hence, newly minted sixpences weighed 43.636 grains or 2.828 grams.
Coin | British Museum Tetradrachm
Collection search | British Museum Obol Athens
Collection search | British Museum 500 BC > 250 BC Athens Coin
Ancient Greek Coins by Jenkins, G. K,- Internet Archive
Money in Classical Antiquity - Sitta von Reden - Google Books
Greek coins : Kraay, Colin M - Internet Archive
The Monetary Systems of the Greeks and Romans - Google Books
Money, Labour and Land - Google Books
Money, Warfare and Power in the Ancient World - Google Books
Apercu Historique: Babelon, Ernest - Internet Archive
Les Monnaies d'Athènes, par E. Beulé (Beulé, Charles Ernest) - Internet Archive
THE REMINTING OF ATHENIAN SILVER COINAGE, 353 B.C.:
John H. Kroll
Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens
Vol. 80, No. 2 (April-June 2011), pp. 229-259 (32 pages)
Published by: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens
DOI: 10.2972/hesperia.80.2.0229
https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2972/hesperia.80.2.0229
ANS Numismatic Notes and Monographs, no. 168 : American Numismatic Society - Internet Archive
For comparative purposes
UK Victorian silver coinage [1816 to 1920 AD] was of .925 (sterling) standard, with silver coins being minted at the rate of 66 shillings to the troy pound weight. Hence, newly minted sixpences weighed 43.636 grains or 2.828 grams.
Coin | British Museum Tetradrachm
Collection search | British Museum Obol Athens
Collection search | British Museum 500 BC > 250 BC Athens Coin
Ancient Greek Coins by Jenkins, G. K,- Internet Archive
Money in Classical Antiquity - Sitta von Reden - Google Books
Greek coins : Kraay, Colin M - Internet Archive
The Monetary Systems of the Greeks and Romans - Google Books
Money, Labour and Land - Google Books
Money, Warfare and Power in the Ancient World - Google Books
==============================
In 5th century BC Athens, the currency was primarily silver, with the "owl" tetradrachm being the most famous and widely circulated coin.
Here's a breakdown of the coin weights and values, based on the Attic standard that Athens used:
Ancient Athenian Currency (5th Century BC)
Denominations and Weights:
The Attic standard was based on a drachma of approximately 4.3 grams of silver.
- Decadrachm: 10 drachmae, approximately 43 grams. (Rare)
- Tetradrachm (the "Owl"): 4 drachmae, approximately 17.2 grams of silver. This was the most common and important coin.
- Didrachm: 2 drachmae, approximately 8.6 grams.
- Drachma: 6 obols, approximately 4.3 grams.
- Tetrobol: 4 obols, approximately 2.85 grams.
- Triobol (Hemidrachm): 3 obols, approximately 2.15 grams.
- Diobol: 2 obols, approximately 1.43 grams.
- Trihemiobol: 1.5 obols, approximately 1.08 grams.
- Obol: Approximately 0.72 grams.
- Hemiobol: 0.5 obols, approximately 0.36 grams.
- Tetartemorion: 1/4 obol, approximately 0.18 grams. This was considered the smallest silver coin.
Value in Daily Life:
It's important to remember that the value of coins was determined by their material and weight, not by a stamped numerical value.
- A drachma was considered an average daily wage for a skilled worker or craftsman in Athens.
- An unskilled worker might be paid around two obols a day.
- A tetradrachm was a significant amount of money, equivalent to four days' wages for a skilled worker, and could be used to purchase luxuries like jewelry, horses, or weapons.
- Larger transactions and hoards often involved tetradrachms.
Key Features of Athenian "Owl" Tetradrachms:
- Obverse: Head of the goddess Athena, typically wearing a crested Attic helmet.
Early owls had a "facing eye" on Athena, which later transitioned to a more realistic profile. - Reverse: An owl (Athena's sacred bird), with an olive sprig and a crescent moon, and the inscription "AΘE" (an abbreviation for "Athens").
- Purity: Athenian coins were known for their exceptionally high purity of silver.
- Source of Silver: Athens benefited from the rich silver mines at Laurion, which provided the bullion for its extensive coinage.
Academic References:
For in-depth academic study of ancient Athenian currency in the 5th century BC, these resources are highly recommended:
- Kallet, Lisa, and John H. Kroll. The Athenian Empire Using Coins as Sources. Cambridge University Press, 2020.
- This book is an excellent, accessible introduction that surveys and illustrates the coinages of the period, emphasizing their economic and monetary foundations. John H. Kroll is a leading scholar in numismatics and Greek weights.
- This book is an excellent, accessible introduction that surveys and illustrates the coinages of the period, emphasizing their economic and monetary foundations. John H. Kroll is a leading scholar in numismatics and Greek weights.
- Kroll, John H. Greek and Roman Coins in the Athenian Agora. American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1993.
- This work provides a detailed analysis of the coins excavated from the Athenian Agora, offering insights into their production and circulation.
- Thompson, Margaret. The New Style Silver Coinage of Athens. American Numismatic Society, 1961.
- While focusing on later "New Style" coinage, Thompson's work is foundational for understanding Athenian numismatics and the evolution of its coinage.
- Kraay, Colin M. Archaic and Classical Greek Coins. University of California Press, 1976.
- A classic and comprehensive survey of early Greek coinage, including significant sections on Athenian issues.
- Seltman, Charles T. Athens: Its History and Coinage before the Persian Invasion. Cambridge University Press, 1924.
- An older but still valuable work focusing on the earliest Athenian coinage.
- Giovannini, Adalberto. "Athenian Currency in the Late Fifth and Early Fourth Century B.C." Hesperia, vol. 46, no. 2, 1977, pp. 185-195.
- This article delves into specific aspects of Athenian currency during a critical period.
These references provide detailed numismatic analysis, historical context, and discussions of the economic impact of Athenian coinage during the 5th century BC.
