This brief study of the coins mentioned in the Gospel has helped us to better understand Jesus’ teachings. Knowing the value of each one allows us greater objectivity in grasping the message the Lord conveys in those passages. For this reason, we have titled it “A Treasure to delve deeper.”
III Part – The Drachma.
Drachma
A Greek silver coin of 4.25 grams and the standard of Greek currency, it is older than the denarius, but in the years of the Gospel, it held a similar value. The weight varied slightly depending on the place of minting. According to classical historians, in Greece, the drachma was equivalent to a day’s wage for work in a village; a magistrate typically earned a drachma and a half. Commentators on Xenophon’s works note that in 335 B.C., an average family could live comfortably on half a drachma per day.
By royal decree of February 8, 1833, Greece, now independent from the Ottoman Empire, re-established the drachma as its official currency—though its value and material varied—and it remained so until January 1, 2002, when it was replaced by the euro.
The Lost Drachma (ca. 1886-1894), by James Tissot. Brooklyn Museum in New York
It is only mentioned in:
Luke 15: 8-9: A woman diligently searches for a lost drachma.
According to Middle Eastern customs, the lost coin could have been part of a bridal diadem. In the time of Jesus, women wore silver coins on their heads and necks. These coins were often part of the dowry price. They represented the wealth and hope of a woman in the event of her husband’s death. The number of coins could vary. They were typically sewn into the bridal veil as a diadem. Thus, they held not only economic but also sentimental value.
- The Didrachma, the Stater, and the Shekel.
Tetradrachma of Alexandre (Vilar Collection)
Tetradrachma of Alexandre (Vilar Collection)
Half-Shekel from Tyre 33/34 A.D.
Stater, the Hebrew Shekel, and the Tetradrachma (4 drachmas) held the same value
The Didrachma (2 drachmas) was equivalent to a half-shekel, which was the tax known as the “weight of the sanctuary”.
Corinthian Stater
Citations from the Gospel:
Mt 17:24: The temple tax collectors ask Peter if Jesus paid the didrachma tax. Jesus, though questioning the legitimacy of Him, as the Son of God, having to pay it, performs a miracle to provide the payment, instructing Peter to catch a fish in whose mouth he will find a stater, a coin equivalent to four drachmas, sufficient to pay the tax for both.
This event demonstrates Jesus’ sovereignty over creation and His willingness to submit to human regulations to avoid causing scandal, despite being the Son of God. The miraculous appearance of the stater reinforces the concept of divine provision and Jesus’ authority over nature. It also highlights Jesus’ obedience to the religious laws of His time.
Following the exile of the Jewish people to Babylon, an annual temple tax of a half-shekel was mandated for every man over 20 years old. This payment was to be made in Jewish currency, but Greek or Roman coins of equivalent weight to the “weight of the sanctuary” (half-shekel) were also accepted.
In the 5th century B.C., the most widely used coin in the Greek world was the Athenian tetradrachma, featuring the goddess Athena with a war helmet on the obverse and an owl on the reverse. It was made of silver.
Greek 1-euro coins still often bear this owl (a symbol of wisdom).
By Josep M. Vilar Bassas and Maria Vilar Vinyeta (Experience Campus – UIC Barcelona).