What is a Drachm?
A Drachm was an ancient coin and a unit of measure. It is a unit of mass and volume in the avoirdupois system. It is a measure of mass equal to 1/ 16 of an avoirdupois ounce, or about 4.3 grams.
Variances of the Word Drachm
When researching this coin, you may notice a few words being used interchangeably or in different time periods or regions. These words include drachma, drachmē, drax, or dram.
History of the Drachm
The drachm was introduced sometime in the 6th century B.C.E. The word’s roots lie in the bartering system, which used drax (drachm) meaning a full hand or the number of coins which can be held in one hand or six obol coins. An obol is 1/6 of a drachm.
Many cultures used the drachm over 1,000 years, from the Archaic period through the Classical period, and from the Hellenistic age to the Roman age.
What Was a Drachm Worth in Ancient Athens?
In terms of currency, one obol was worth 1 /6 of a drachm, while 70 drachms were equal to 1 mina. 60 minae were the equivalent of one Athenian talent. The talent was a weight used for commerce and bartering.
One drachm could buy enough wheat for a family of four food for four days or enough wheat for one person to have food for 16 days.
How long did it take to earn one drachm? During the Peloponnesian War from 431 – 404 B.C.E., Athenian soldiers were paid one drachm per day of work
Another way to demonstrate the practical value of Greek commerce and the Athenian drachm:
| Wax and Stylus | 1 obol or 1/6 drachm |
| Pomegranates | 1 obol or 1/6 drachm |
| High Quality Bread | 1/2 obol or 1/12 drachm |
| Three Liters Olive Oil | 4 drachmae and 2 obols |
Drachm as a Measure of Weight and as Currency
Greek or Athenian Drachmae
One of the most well-known drachma coins was the Athenian drachma coin, which featured the owl of Athena on one side and an olive branch on the other. It was a silver coin used in various city-states, each producing its own drachm coins. The value of these coins could differ depending on the issuing city-state and the purity of the silver used.
The drachm remained a common currency in the Greek world for centuries until it was eventually replaced by the Euro.
Drachmae to Measure Weight
In the context of weight, a drachm was used in ancient Greece and Persia as a unit of mass. The weight of a drachm varied in different regions and time periods but was equivalent to around 3.5 grams. In ancient times, precious metals such as gold and silver were often measured in drachms.
Drachms in Modern Times
You may have used a drachm or drachma in a video game! In Assassin’s Creed Origins and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you can use drachmas to purchase weapons, clothing, and other items.
Eventually, drachms became known as staters, which became the dollar in the New World.
