the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Encyclopedias
Drachma
Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
or 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.
Public Domain.
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Drachma'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/kbe/d/drachma.html.
