By Water & Blood

Of Weight, Including Coinage

44. To this point we have discussed such measures as we have mentioned, but hereafter we speak of weights.

45. Discussion concerning the talent. The talent is that measure used in weighing that exceeds every other. And it is called the talent from the circumstance that equal ^[372] weights fall into the two scale pans of a balance, and by the weight that is equal in counterpoise that which is in the other scale pan is weighed, that is, suspended.^[373] But the talent is called @@@ ^[374] among the Hebrews, that is, the @@@,^[375] |57which in librae consists of 125 librae by weight. But according to the lepta of coinage, when cut up ^[376] into lepta, it is divided into 6,000 lepta. Accountants call this the unit.^[377] It is not the only (unit) for reckoning large sums, for there is also the unit involved in the "10,000 denarii." There are, however, 6,000 lepta in 1 talent. The lepta are called assaria, concerning which it is said in the Gospel: "Are not two sparrows sold for one assarion?" ^[378] Or, again: "Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria?"^[379] But they are called assaria when the smallest (weight) is translated from the Hebrew.^[380] Sixty assaria, however, are a denarion,^[381] and 100 denaria are a silver (coin).^[382] And they were 2 denarii that fell from the widow into the treasury; ^[383] they have also been called 2 lepta, for assaria are the smallest ^[384] things that can be. And the argyrus was coined as a coin from the beginning; therefore they also say argyroi.^[385] This came originally from the Assyrians, and they say that Abraham brought this coin ^[386] to Canaan. The 1/125 part of the talent is the libra. The centenarius was invented among the Romans, for it also bears a Roman name. They say centum for 100, and it is a weight of 100 librae.

46. [Concerning the litra.] The litra,^[387] however, consists of 12 ounces. As to its name, it also is from the Hebrew, for λίτρα means |58 "It is mine," which is in every case persuasive and reassuring to him that receives and to him that gives.

47. [Concerning the ounce.] And it is named the ounce, on the one hand according to the height in the measure or by the spaced altitude; on the other hand it is measured in scales ^[388] for weighing by the heaviness of a (known) weight, and by the knob of the scales it is determined according to the swerving, being estimated and weighed according to the lines of distance. And there are in the ounce 2 staters, because of that which was said by our Savior to Peter: "Cast your hook into the sea and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a stater"----called in the Hebrew a zuzå; ^[389] "taking this, give for me and yourself." ^[390] For it was a stater containing half an ounce or 2 double zuze, since the Pharisees said to Peter: "Does not your master pay the double zuzå?" ^[391] For by the census of King Augustus there was to be paid what they called the poll tax,^[392] but in the Roman language capitatio, for they call the head a caput. So the Pharisees said: "Does not your master pay the double zuzå?" which is 2 zuze.

48. [Concerning the shekel.] One shekel is that which is transliterated from the Hebrew language shekel, ^[393] meaning inclination, for they say the shekel pulls down.^[394] There are in it two of what are called lepta, which makes 2 zuze; but 2 double zuze, which is 2 shekels |59 according to the sacred shekel,^[395] make 1 stater. The weight of this stater is the sum of 2 double zuze, the complete measure of two poll taxes, as the Lord said: "Give a stater for me and you." For this is what was ordered by Augustus to be paid for every poll. But the shekel is also called a kodrantes, ^[396] for there are 2 zuze in it. But when it is changed or divided it is divided into many lepta, for the silver (coin) which is called by the Hebrews a mina----that is, a number ^[397] ----contains 100 denarii; its fourth is 25 denarii when it is changed. So when it is changed, because it is bound up in a bag, it is called a kodrantes, for they call a bag of silver a kodarion. ^[398] But the shekel, which is one-fourth of an ounce, one-half of a stater, contains 2 zuze; for one-eighth of an ounce is a zuzå. And the zuzå was also called a holke. ^[399] By this weight----I mean the shekel----they weighed the hair of Absalom every time he had his hair cut; and it possessed the weight of 125 shekels, which is 31 ounces and 1 shekel, that is, 2 1/2 librae and 5 shekels.^[400]

49. Concerning the obolus. The obolus also was coined among the silver (coins). The one, however, made not of silver but of iron is one-eighth of an ounce,^[401] for this used to be an arrow.^[402] For the life of man before the coming of Christ was hemmed in by wars, so that they had need of arrows against those of the enemy. By means of such things as these they did business, everyone giving five or ten arrows when purchasing bread or anything else. But this was in weight one-seventh of an ounce; and with our own eyes we have seen this kind, O lover of the good. For on the island of Cyprus many kings and tyrants seized the government in antiquity. And going up for a walk |60 to one of the ancient castles which had revolted once upon a time, we entered where there had been a palace, where there was stored a portion of the tyrant's pay which was given to the soldiers under him from time to time. And there had been placed in a heap these obeloi,^[403] which were fashioned by early man for use as money. But they were also employed in the wars. Moreover, these things concerning the oboloi, such as I have expounded and adduced, I was compelled to say because the divine Scripture says: "The whole world of capital belongs to the faithful; not even an obolus belongs to the unfaithful." ^[404] But there was also another obolus that was coined of silver, which was a very small coin; it is one-eightieth of an ounce.^[405] For it is said in Leviticus: "The double zuzå shall be 20 oboloi." ^[406] We have already shown that the double zuzå is one-fourth of an ounce.

50. Concerning the chalkoi. (As for) the chalkoi, the Egyptians invented them. They are silver (coins) that are coined; for this reason the silver coins are called coppers ^[407] among the Alexandrians. But the chalkus is one-eighth of an ounce by weight, like the zuzå.^[408]

51. Concerning the mina. Mina is for mane.^[409] For in the Hebrew the silver (coin) is called the mane. But the Italian mina consists of 40 staters, that is, of 20 ounces----a libra and two-thirds. But that which is called the barbarian, the Theban, consists of 60 staters, that is, 2 1/2 librae. But they coin other minas, some of 2 librae, some of 4, everyone according to his pleasure. And there have been many types of silver (coins) from time to time. |61 

52. [Concerning the nummus. ^[410]] A certain nummus was once called after one Numa who was a king of the Romans, and in accordance with his name the coin was coined. But the ancients called half of the silver (denarius) the dichryson.^[411] And the silver (denarius) is what the Romans call the miliarision,^[412] which is translated "military gift." ^[413] This dichryson also was the silver (coin) that was later called repudiated. After the king had been killed, his stamp was still engraved upon the dichryson. When his coin came to be repudiated it was called fraudulent, that is, repudiated. But you find this term in the prophet also, O lover of learning, as he says: "Call them repudiated silver." ^[414] But the Cyprians and other peoples call the assarion by the Greek name ziretia.^[415] And, again, the ancients had silver (coins) that were called lityra,^[415] also tyria;^[415] but we do not know how heavy these were as to weight.

53. [Concerning the follis.] The follis is also called the purse,^[416] because it is a multiple; for it is 2 1/2 silver (coins), which is 250 ^[417] denarii. Two lepta are a follis according to the copper coinage,^[418] but not according to the silver coinage. This also was of silver.^[419] And, moreover, even at the present time the Romans make use of this |62 number, 125 pieces of silver in number being considered among the Romans as heaped up together to make one purse, because the profusion of the quantity of the silver pieces fills the bag. For as the talent contains 125 librae by number, so also in the case of the follis 125 silver (denarii) complete ^[420] the number. But you also find this, O lover of the good, in the book of Kingdoms, when Naaman the Syrian, turning in the chariot, went to meet with Gehazi and he, as if sent by Elisha personally, said, lying: "My lord sent me, saying: 'There have come to me two needy sons of the prophets. But send them two garments and a talent of silver.' " And he said: "Take two talents of silver and two garments that may be changed," And he put the two talents into two bags and placed them upon two young men.^[421]

Now a talent, we say, consists of 125 librae, that is, the great talent; and this was placed in bags because it was in coins. For the number 125 is called a talent because of its great weight. For when we wish to mention what is excessive in weight we say "exceeding the talent," but when (a matter) of simple number, the number 125 is employed.^[422] And, again, it is called the follis because of the interpretation "bag"; and in lepta it lumps up ^[423] 125 lepta of silver ^[424] in one coin (name) ^[425] so as to be called individually a follis, being mentioned by this name "bag." In accordance with another explanation among the Hebrews, the term sala ^[426] is used; but this coin is entirely of silver, the weight half an ounce. This is what Abraham proposed to give to the sons of |63 Shechem as the price of the field because of the double cave, saying, "four hundred double zuze between us," ^[427] which were 200 salim. And ^[428] the sala is interpreted as follis because of the roundness of form of the coin. The round scales of reptiles are called folides.^[429] When this is reckoned in talents the number is carried up to 125 librae, but when in folles they are composed of 125 (denarii) of silver. It has the name of bag among the Romans, but among the Hebrews and Greeks that of snake scales.^[430] But the Alexandrians, having reduced the talent to the smallest (subdivisions), made it consist of 15 silver (coins) in number, for a silver (coin) was 100 denarii. And in a denarius there were 4 lepta. So all these made up 6,000 ^[431] lepta in a talent. To this point, again, as regards the weights and the silver (coins) and the measures and the numbers which we have adduced, we have also made explanation.