Athenian drachma

E56536

The Athenian drachma was an influential ancient Greek silver coin that became a dominant trade currency throughout the Mediterranean world.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf ancient Greek silver coin
currency
approximateWeight about 4.3 grams of silver
associatedWith Athenian democracy
Delian League tribute system
category ancient Greek numismatics
circulatedIn Aegean Sea region
Black Sea region
Mediterranean world
Near East
country Ancient Greece
denominationSystem Athenian (Attic) monetary system
economicRole dominant trade currency in eastern Mediterranean
reference currency for exchange rates in antiquity
historicalImportance helped facilitate Athenian maritime trade empire
widely imitated by other mints
iconography symbols of Athena and her owl
influenced Hellenistic coinage standards
other Greek city-state coinages
inscription ΑΘΕ (abbreviation of Athēnaiōn)
issuingAuthority polis of Athens
languageOfInscription Ancient Greek
legalTenderIn Athenian polis and its territories
material silver
mediumOfExchange silver coinage
metal silver
mintedAt Athens Mint
monetarySystem Greek drachma system
obverseDesign head of Athena
region Attica
relatedCurrency Athenian obol
Athenian tetradrachm
reverseDesign crescent
olive sprig
owl of Athena
standard Attic weight standard
subunitOf Athenian tetradrachm
timePeriod 4th century BCE
5th century BCE
Classical period of ancient Greece
usedFor mercenary wages
payments
trade
tribute payments in the Delian League
usedIn Classical Athens
valueRelativeTo 1⁄4 of an Athenian tetradrachm
6 Athenian obols
weightSystem Attic weight system

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Classical Athens
currency
Athenian drachma ("Athenian tetradrachm")
relatedCurrency

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