Drachma

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The Drαcημα is different, it was a Greek coin which the Roman Dεναrιus (translated unfortunately "penny"  Revelation 6:6, a laborer's daily wages  Matthew 20:2-9) superseded:  Luke 15:8-9, "Piece Of Silver," Greek drachmee . (See Penny.) The "penny," denarius , in metal was equivalent to 7 1/2 pence, but could purchase more than our shilling.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): ( n.) A gold and silver coin of modern Greece worth 19.3 cents.

(2): ( n.) A silver coin among the ancient Greeks, having a different value in different States and at different periods. The average value of the Attic drachma is computed to have been about 19 cents.

(3): ( n.) Among the ancient Greeks, a weight of about 66.5 grains; among the modern Greeks, a weight equal to a gram.

King James Dictionary

Drachma, n. L., Gr.

1. A Grecian coin. Of the value of seven pence, three farthings, sterling, or nearly fourteen cents. 2. The eighth part of an ounce, or sixty grains, or three scruples a weight used by apothecaries, but usually written dram.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Luke 15:8-9CoinsEconomic Life

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

The value of a common drachma was sevenpence, English. A didrachma, or double drachma, made very near half a shekel; and four drachmas made nearly a shekel.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(δραχμή, "drachm ,"  2 Maccabees 4:19;  2 Maccabees 10:20;  2 Maccabees 12:43; "piece of silver,"  Luke 15:8-9), a Greek silver coin, consisting of 6 oboli (Bockh, Staatshaus . 1:16 sq.), but varying in weight on account of the use of different talents. The Jews must have been acquainted with three talents — the Ptolemaic, used in Egypt, and at Tyre, Sidon, and Berytus, and adopted for their own shekels; the Phoenician, used at Aradus and by the Persians; and the Attic, which was almost universal in Europe, and in a great part of Asia. The drachmae of these talents weigh respectively, during the period of the Maccabees, about 55 grs. Troy, 58.5, and 66 (see De Rome de l'Isle, Metrologie, Paris, 1789, page 81 sq.). The drachms mentioned in 2 Macc. are probably of the Seleucidae, and therefore of the Attic standard; but in Luke denarii seems to be intended, for the Attic drachma had been at that time reduced to about the same weight as the Roman denarius (q.v.) as well as the Ptolemaic drachma, and was wholly or almost superseded by it. This explains the remark of Josephus that "the shekel was worth four Attic drachmae" (Ant. 3:8, 2), for the four Ptolemaic drachmse of the shekel, as equal to four denarii of his time, were also equal to four Attic drachmase; and the didrachm (q.v.) was equivalent to the sacred half shekel (War, 7:6, 6;  Matthew 17:24) of the Temple-tax. (See Bockh, Metrolog. Unters. Berl . 1838.) — Smith, s.v. (See Dram); (See Daric); (See Piece Of Silver).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Drach´ma, a coin of silver, the most common among the Greeks, and which after the Exile became also current among the Jews . The earlier Attic drachmae were of the average weight of 66.5 grains, and in a comparison with the shilling would be equal to 9¾d. But the specimens of later times are of the average weight of only 61 grains, and some of less. In this state the drachma was counted equal to the denarius, which was at first worth 8½d. and afterwards only 7½d.The value of the drachma of the New Testament may therefore have been about 8d. The woman's 'ten pieces of silver' (drachma) in , would hence be equal to 6s. 8d. of our money —that is, in nominal value, for the real value of money was far greater in the time of Christ than at present.