Definition

• From the Greek, ???????? a pair of scales, was later applied to a definite weight and belongs to the subject of metrology rather than numismatics.

  In Greece there were several standards, but the one most common made the Talent equal to sixty Minae ; the Mina equal to one hundred Drachmai ; and the Drachma equal to six Oboli ; so that a Talent con- tained six thousand Drachmai, and when a Talent of gold is mentioned, the term refers to the weight and not the value.

  In the Babylonian system the Talent was also equal to sixty Minae or Manas, and the latter was again equal to sixty Shekels. The Semetic name was Kikkar.

  The Roman Talent was a money of ac- count and corresponded to one hundred Libral Asses. It was generally called Centupondium.

  For a full account of these early standards conf. Hill, Handbook of Greek and Roman Coins, 1899, pp. 28-32 and Cunningham, Coins of Ancient India, 1891, pp. 26-31.

Source

• Frey's Dictionary (American Journal of Numismatics, Vol. 50, 1916)

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