DRAM
Ezr 2:69, a gold coin of Persia, worth about five dollars.
Fuente: American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
Dram
(1Ch 29:7; Ezr 2:69; Ezr 8:27; Neh 7:70-71), or Drachm (Tob 5:14; 2Ma 4:19; 2Ma 12:43). The term rendered thus in our version (Sept. and , Vulg. drachma and solidus;
, darkemonim’, Ezr 2:69; Nehemiah 6:70-72; or with a letter prefixed , adarkonim’, 1Ch 29:7; Ezr 8:27) is usually thought to denote the DARIC () of the Persians (from the Persic dara, a king, whence perhaps the title Darius), and seems to be etymologically connected with the Greek DRACHMA (). The daric is of interest not only as the most ancient gold coin of which any specimens have been preserved to the present day, but as the earliest coined money which, we can be sure, was known to and used by the Jews; for, independently of the above passages, it must have been in circulation among the Jews during their subjection to the Persians. It even circulated extensively in Greece. The distinguishing mark of the coin was a crowned archer, kneeling on one knee, stamped on one side, and on the other a deep irregular cleft. Harpocration says that, according to some persons, the daric was worth twenty silver drachmae, which agrees with the statement of Xenophon (Anab. 1:7, 18), who informs us that 3000 darics were equal to ten talents, which would consequently make the daric equal to twenty drachmae. The value of the daric in our money, computed thus from the drachma, is 16s. 3d. sterling, or $3.93; but, if reckoned by comparison with our gold money, it is much more. The darics in the British Museum weigh 128.4 grains and 1286 grains respectively. Hussey (Anc. Weights, 7:3) calculates the daric as containing on an average about 123.7 grains of pure gold, and therefore equal to 1 ls. 10d. 1 76 gr., or $5.29. There are also silver coins which go by the name of darics, on account of their bearing the figure of an archer; but they were never called by this name in ancient times. SEE DARIC.
The drachma (, “piece of silver,” Luk 15:8-9) was a coin of silver, the most common among the Greeks, and which, after the Exile, became also current among the Jews (2Ma 4:19; 2Ma 10:20; 2Ma 12:43). The earlier Attic drachmae were of the average weight of 66-5 grains, and in a comparison with the shilling would be equal to 9.72d., or about 19 cents. After Alexander’s time there was a slight decrease in the weight of the drachma, till, in course of time, it weighed only 63 grains, and specimens of the later times are in some cases even of less weight than this. In this state the drachma was counted equal to the denarius, which was at first worth 8d., and afterwards only 7d., or about 15 cents; which may therefore be considered as the value of the drachma in the New Testament that is, the nominal value, for the real value of money was far greater in the time of Christ than at present. That the drachma of Alexandria was equal to two of Greece is inferred from the fact that the Sept. makes the Jewish shekel equivalent to two drachmae, SEE DIDRACHMA; and, in fact, an Alexandrian drachma weighing 126 grains has been found. There was also the tetradrachm, or four-drachmae piece, in later times called the stater (q.v.). (See Smith’s Dict. of Class. Antiq. s.v. Drachma.) SEE DRACHMA.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Dram
The Authorized Version understood the word ‘adarkonim (1 Chr. 29:7; Ezra 8:27), and the similar word darkomnim (Ezra 2:69; Neh. 7:70), as equivalent to the Greek silver coin the drachma. But the Revised Version rightly regards it as the Greek dareikos, a Persian gold coin (the daric) of the value of about 1 pound, 2s., which was first struck by Darius, the son of Hystaspes, and was current in Western Asia long after the fall of the Persian empire. (See DARIC)
Fuente: Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Dram
DRAM, from the Gr. drachma, is used in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] to render two words which RV [Note: Revised Version.] , with questionable accuracy, has rendered darics (see more fully under Money, 4). The ten pieces of silver of Luk 15:8 f., however, were real drachmas, as marg. of AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RV [Note: Revised Version.] , for which see Money, 7.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Dram
See DRACHMA; MONEY.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Dram
Fig. 152Persian Daric
Gesenius and most others are of opinion that the word which occurs in 1Ch 29:7; Ezr 8:27; Ezr 2:69; Neh 7:70-72; denotes the Persian Daric, a gold coin, which must have been in circulation among the Jews during their subjection to the Persians. This coin is of interest, not only as the most ancient gold coin of which any specimens have been preserved to the present day, but as the earliest coined money which, we can be sure, was known to and used by the Jews. The distinguishing mark of the coin was a crowned archer, who appears with some slight variations on different specimens.
His garb is the same which is seen in the sculptures at Persepolis, and the figure on the coin is called, in numismatics, Sagittarius. The specimens weighed by Dr. Bernard were fifteen grains heavier than an English guinea, and their intrinsic value may, therefore, be reckoned at twenty-five shillings.
Fuente: Popular Cyclopedia Biblical Literature
Dram
See WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Fuente: Concise Bible Dictionary
Dram
Called also Drachm. A Persian coin of differently estimated value.
1Ch 29:7; Ezr 2:69; Ezr 8:27; Neh 7:70-72
Fuente: Nave’s Topical Bible
Dram
Dram. See Daric.