Obol
The fraction of the drachma and the small Greek denominations
The obol is a small unit of Greek coinage. In the reference system it was worth one sixth of the drachma. This ratio between denominations does not imply a universal weight, because the drachma itself followed different standards.
The fraction of the drachma
The ratio between drachma and obol allows you to read even small multiples and submultiples. The diobol was worth two obols; the triobol three, that is, half a drachma. The hemiobol instead represented half an obol.
| Denomination | Obols | Drachmas |
|---|---|---|
| Hemiobol | 1/2 | 1/12 |
| Obol | 1 | 1/6 |
| Diobol | 2 | 1/3 |
| Triobol | 3 | 1/2 |
| Drachma | 6 | 1 |
Weight and function
Taking the theoretical Attic drachma of approximately 4.3 grams as a reference, its sixth corresponds to approximately 0.72 grams. It is a comparison value, obtained from the ratio between the units; is not the necessary weight of each coin classified as obol.
Small modulus silver issues allowed values lower than the drachma to be expressed. To recognize them, size alone is not enough: city, period, types and weight must be compared with a relevant numismatic classification. The name of denomination cannot be deduced from its diameter alone.
The name and the ancient tradition
The Greek term is connected to obelos, the spit or metal rod. Tradition relates the six obols with a handful and with the name of the drachma: it is a reference to the use of metal objects as means of value, to be distinguished from the history of coins minted in individual cities.
In mythology, obol is also remembered as a payment to Charon for the passage of the dead. The Metropolitan Museum recalls this tradition in the entry of a silver obol from Attica dated around 454–404 BC. The funerary function belongs to this cultural context: it is not the economic definition of all issues called obol.
Read the complete system
The obol is included together with the drachma and its multiples. The stater introduces a further comparison, because its relationship with the drachma depends on the monetary system adopted. For the chronological framework, see the history of Greek coinage.