DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45277#0040
XXXVI
INTRODUCTION.
the weight of the silver shekel, mina, and talent, was raised above or lowered
beneath that of the gold shekel, mina, and talent, in order that the gold shekel
might be the more readily convertible into a round number of silver shekels.
§ 7. Derivation of Coin-weights.
Assyrio-Babylonic Gold Minae.
HEAVY LIGHT.
Mina . 15,600 grs. 7800 grs.
y’o or Shekel 260 grs. 130 grs.
Silver standards derived from the Gold Minae.
I. From the heavy gold shekel of 260 grs.
260 x 13-3 = 3458 grs. of silver.
3458 grs. of silver = 15 shekels of 230 grs.
On the silver shekel of 230 grs. the Phoenician or Graeco-
Asiatic silver standard may be constructed.
Phoenician Talent 690,000 grs. = 3000 staters.
Standard. Mina 11500 — 50 staters.
Stater 230 grs.
II. From the light gold shekel of 130 grs.
130 x 13-3 = 1729 grs. of silver.
1729 grs. of silver =10 shekels of 172-9 grs.
On the silver shekel of i72'9 grs. the Babyionic, Lydian, and
Persian silver standard may be thus constructed.
Persic
Talent
518,700 grs. = 3000 staters — 6000 sigli
Standard.
Mina
8645 grs. — 50 „
= 100 „
Stater
172-9 grs. = 1 „
= 2
Siglos
86-45 grs-
The above figures must of course only be taken as approximately correct.
In some districts the weights of the coins will be found to yield a higher,
in others a lower, average. All such deviations will be noticed under the
headings of the localities in which they occur.
For the present it will be sufficient to take note of the fact that in Asia
Minor and in the earliest period of the art of coining, (a) the heavy gold
stater (260 grs.) occurs at various places from Teos northwards as far as
the shores of the Propontis, (3) the light gold stater (130 grs.) in Lydia
(Kpot'creios aTar^p) and in Samos (?); (y) the electrum stater of the Phoenician
silver standard chiefly at Miletus, but also at other towns along the west coast
of Asia Minor as well as in Lydia, never however of full weight; (8) the
electrum and silver stater of the Babyionic standard chiefly, if not solely, in
Lydia; (e) the silver stater of the Phoenician standard on the west coast
of Asia Minor.
INTRODUCTION.
the weight of the silver shekel, mina, and talent, was raised above or lowered
beneath that of the gold shekel, mina, and talent, in order that the gold shekel
might be the more readily convertible into a round number of silver shekels.
§ 7. Derivation of Coin-weights.
Assyrio-Babylonic Gold Minae.
HEAVY LIGHT.
Mina . 15,600 grs. 7800 grs.
y’o or Shekel 260 grs. 130 grs.
Silver standards derived from the Gold Minae.
I. From the heavy gold shekel of 260 grs.
260 x 13-3 = 3458 grs. of silver.
3458 grs. of silver = 15 shekels of 230 grs.
On the silver shekel of 230 grs. the Phoenician or Graeco-
Asiatic silver standard may be constructed.
Phoenician Talent 690,000 grs. = 3000 staters.
Standard. Mina 11500 — 50 staters.
Stater 230 grs.
II. From the light gold shekel of 130 grs.
130 x 13-3 = 1729 grs. of silver.
1729 grs. of silver =10 shekels of 172-9 grs.
On the silver shekel of i72'9 grs. the Babyionic, Lydian, and
Persian silver standard may be thus constructed.
Persic
Talent
518,700 grs. = 3000 staters — 6000 sigli
Standard.
Mina
8645 grs. — 50 „
= 100 „
Stater
172-9 grs. = 1 „
= 2
Siglos
86-45 grs-
The above figures must of course only be taken as approximately correct.
In some districts the weights of the coins will be found to yield a higher,
in others a lower, average. All such deviations will be noticed under the
headings of the localities in which they occur.
For the present it will be sufficient to take note of the fact that in Asia
Minor and in the earliest period of the art of coining, (a) the heavy gold
stater (260 grs.) occurs at various places from Teos northwards as far as
the shores of the Propontis, (3) the light gold stater (130 grs.) in Lydia
(Kpot'creios aTar^p) and in Samos (?); (y) the electrum stater of the Phoenician
silver standard chiefly at Miletus, but also at other towns along the west coast
of Asia Minor as well as in Lydia, never however of full weight; (8) the
electrum and silver stater of the Babyionic standard chiefly, if not solely, in
Lydia; (e) the silver stater of the Phoenician standard on the west coast
of Asia Minor.