[Illustration: Attic Drachma. (British Museum.)]
DRACHMA (δραχμή), the principal silver coin among the Greeks. The two
chief standards in the currencies of the Greek states were the Attic
and Aeginetan. The average value of the Attic drachma was 9¾_d._ of
our money. It contained six obols (ὀβολοί); and the Athenians had
separate silver coins, from four drachmae to a quarter of an obol.
There were also silver pieces of two drachmae and four drachmae.
(See tables.) The tetradrachm in later times was called _stater_.
The latter word also signifies a gold coin, equal in value to twenty
drachmae [STATER]. The obolos, in later times, was of bronze: but in
the best times of Athens we only read of silver obols. The χαλκοῦς
was a copper coin, and the eighth part of an obol. The Attic
standard prevailed most in the maritime and commercial states. It
was the standard of Philip’s gold, and was introduced by Alexander
for silver also.--The Aeginetan standard appears to have been the
prevalent one in early times: we are told that money was first coined
at Aegina by order of Pheidon at Argos. In later times the Aeginetan
standard was used in almost all the states of the Peloponnesus,
except Corinth. The average value of the Aeginetan drachma was 1_s._
1¾_d._ in our money; and the values of the different coins of this
standard are as follows:--
| Shill. | Pence. | Farth.
½ Obol | - | 1 | 0·583
Obol | - | 2 | 1·166
Diobolus | - | 4 | 2·33
Triobolus | - | 6 | 2·5
Drachma | 1 | 1 | 3
Didrachm | 2 | 3 | 2
[Illustration: Aeginetan Drachma. (British Museum.)]
As the Romans reckoned in sesterces, so the Greeks generally reckoned
by drachmae; and when a sum is mentioned in the Attic writers,
without any specification of the unit, drachmae are usually meant.
DRĂCO. [SIGNA MILITARIA.]
DŬCĒNĀRĬI.--(1) The name given to the Roman procuratores, who
received a salary of 200 sestertia. The procuratores first received a
salary in the time of Augustus.--(2) A class or decuria of judices,
first established by Augustus. They were so called because their
property, as valued in the census, amounted only to 200 sestertia.
They appear to have tried cases of small importance.
DŬCENTĒSĬMA. [CENTESIMA.]
DŬŎDĔCIM SCRIPTA. [LATRUNCULI.]
DŬŎDĔCIM TĂBŬLĀRUM LEX. [LEX.]
DUPLĀRĬI or DUPLĬCĀRĬI, were soldiers who received on account of
their good conduct double allowance (_duplicia cibaria_), and perhaps
in some cases double pay likewise.
DŬPONDĬUS. [AS.]
DUSSIS. [AS.]
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