The Attic and Aeginetan standards were two distinct weight systems used for coinage in ancient Greece. Here are the main differences between them:
Attic Standard:
- Origins: The Attic standard was primarily used in Athens and later adopted by other Greek cities.
- Weight: The main unit of the Attic standard was the drachma, which typically weighed around 4.3 grams.
- Talent Weight: The Attic talent, a larger monetary unit, weighed approximately 26 kilograms (57.3 pounds).
- Adoption: Widely adopted during the classical and Hellenistic periods, especially under Alexander the Great and his successors.
Aeginetan Standard:
- Origins: The Aeginetan standard originated on the island of Aegina and was one of the oldest coinage standards in Greece.
- Weight: The drachma of the Aeginetan standard was heavier, weighing around 6.2 grams.
- Talent Weight: The Aeginetan talent was slightly heavier than the Attic talent, weighing around 30 kilograms (66 pounds).
- Adoption: This standard was used by several other Greek city-states, particularly in the Peloponnese and in marine-based trade networks.
Summary:
- Weight Difference: The key difference is in the weight of the basic monetary units; the Aeginetan drachma was considerably heavier than the Attic drachma.
- Geographical Use: The Attic standard was more widespread, especially in later periods due to the influence of Athens and the conquests of Alexander the Great. The Aeginetan standard was more localized to Aegina and the surrounding regions.
For detailed insights, you can consult resources like Wikipedia and various academic articles from numismatic studies.