What is a ancient Greek coin called?
Drachma, silver coin of ancient Greece, dating from about the mid-6th century bc, and the former monetary unit of modern Greece. The drachma was one of the world’s earliest coins. Its name derives from the Greek verb meaning “to grasp,” and its original value was equivalent to that of a handful of arrows.
Did ancient Greeks have silver?
One of the most common uses of silver throughout antiquity was as coinage. The first Greek coins appeared at Aegina c. 600 BCE (or even earlier), which were silver and used a turtle design as a symbol of the city’s prosperity based on maritime trade. Athens and Corinth soon followed Aegina’s lead.
How much was a stater worth?
There also existed a “gold stater”, but it was only minted in some places, and was mainly an accounting unit worth 20–28 drachmae depending on place and time, the Athenian unit being worth 20 drachmae.
How much is an ancient Greek drachma worth?
However, some historians have estimated that in the 5th century BC a drachma had a rough value of 25 U.S. dollars (in the year 1990 – equivalent to 40 USD in 2006). A skilled worker in Athens or a hoplite could earn about one drachma a day. Sculptors and doctors were able to make up to six drachmae daily.
Which is the largest Greek island?
Crete
The largest Greek island by area is Crete, located at the southern edge of the Aegean Sea. The second largest island is Euboea, which is separated from the mainland by the 60m-wide Euripus Strait, and is administered as part of the Central Greece region.
Where was the first coin made in ancient Greece?
As hinted earlier, the archaic period is the earliest period for Greek coin production. The earliest known coins during this period are called East Greek and Lydian coins and they were found at Ephesus under the Temple of Artemis.
What was the weight of Ancient Greek coins?
Following the wide circulation of the coins, other cities began to mint their own coins to 6.1 grams of “Aeginetan” weight standard. The various cities also include their symbols on the coins they mint. The archaic Greek coin also spread further than the Greek nation and was widely used in the Achaemenid Empire.
What was on the reverse of Ancient Greek coins?
Archaic coin of Athens with effigy of Athena on the obverse, and olive sprig, owl and ΑΘΕ, initials of “Athens” on the reverse. The history of ancient Greek coinage can be divided (along with most other Greek art forms) into four periods, the Archaic, the Classical, the Hellenistic and the Roman.
Why are there old Greek coins in Sicily?
You may be interested in old Greek coins from Sicily because it was a wealthy island that created gorgeous coins. Syracuse was an affluent city on the island known for numismatic art and beautiful coins. The Hellenistic period took place from 323 BC to 31 BC.
What was the weight of an ancient Greek coin?
Below are the weights of Ancient Greek coins: Corinthian: derived from the 8.6-gram silver stater, subsequently divided into three silver 2.9-gram drachma Ancient Greek coins were valued in “drachmae” (meaning “handful”) and “obols” (meaning “spit” or “rotisserie”). Six obols are worth one drachma.
What was the name of the Greek unit of silver?
It was the standard unit of silver coinage at most ancient Greek mints, and the name obol was used to describe a coin that was one-sixth of a drachma.
How much silver is in an Athenian coin?
Once these coins were circulated more widely, the Aegenetan standard was born. The Attic standard was common for Athenian coins, where a drachm was equal to about 4.3 grams of silver. The bountiful silver supply at the Laurion mines was used in this period to make the ancient Greek coins of the Attic standard.
When did the Greeks start minting silver coins?
The coin standard of Aegina was prevailing in the whole Aegean from about 600 to 450 BC. The practice of minting coins was directed westwards and the silver ‘colts’ of Corinth, named after the Pegasus design on the front, were influential in the development of coinage in north-western Greece and also in southern Italy and Sicily.
