Drachma
The drachma is one of the most famous and historically significant coin denominations of antiquity and plays a central role in numismatics. Originally introduced in ancient Greece, the drachma quickly became one of the most important trade coins in the Greek world. Its name is derived from the Greek word ‘drássomai’, meaning ‘a handful’ – an allusion to its original value of six obols, which could be held in one hand. As early as the 6th century BC, drachmas were minted as silver coins and were used for both domestic and international trade.
Particularly well known are the Attic drachmas, which were minted according to the Athenian coin standard and were widely accepted throughout the Mediterranean world due to their high purity and stable weight of approximately 4.3 grams. The obverse of the Attic drachma often featured the portrait of the goddess Athena, while the reverse showed the
owl – the symbol of wisdom and the city-state of Athens. These motifs made the drachma not only a means of payment, but also a symbol of cultural identity and political power.
With the expansion of Hellenism under Alexander the Great, the drachma spread widely to Egypt, Persia and India. The drachma remained in use among the Diadochi and later in the Roman Empire, often with local variations in weight and design. This gave rise to numerous regional coinages, which today convey a diverse picture of ancient coinage. In many regions of Asia, the drachma was used as a model for their own coinage systems for centuries, underscoring its influence on global monetary history.
In numismatics, the drachma is considered a central object of study. It allows conclusions to be drawn not only about economic conditions, but also about artistic developments, political power relations and trade relations in antiquity. The stylistic diversity of ancient drachmas – from simple line drawings to masterfully crafted portraits – makes them sought-after collector’s items and objects of research.
Until modern times, the term ‘drachma’ was used in various cultural areas to designate currency units, for example in modern Greece until the introduction of the euro. The drachma thus remains a living symbol of the long history of money – deeply rooted in Europe’s cultural memory and firmly anchored in numismatic discourse.