Didrachm

(Greek δίδραχμον, Lat. didrachma — double drachma, "tribute," Mt 17:24), a silver coin equal to two Attic drachmae, and also to the Jewish half shekel (Joseph. Ant. 3, 8, 2). It was therefore equivalent to about Isaiah 4d. sterling, or 30 cents. SEE DRAM; SEE STATER. By the law every Jew was required to pay half a shekel to the Temple (Ex 30:13 sq.), and this amount is represented by the didrachma in Mt 17:24, where it is used for the "tribute-money" demanded of Christ (compare Josephus, Ant. 18:9, 1). The Septuagint everywhere renders the "shekel" of the Old Testament by didrachma; but a the Attic drachma was equal to only half a shekel, it seems from this probable that the drachma of Alexandria was equal to two Attic drachmae, or one of Egina. See Frentz, De didrachmis a Christo solutis (Vitebh 1737); Schmidt, id. (Argent. 1701; Lips. 1757; also in his Dispp. p. 796-863); Leisner, Illustratio loci Matthew (Fridericopol. 1794); Paulus, Erwerbungsmittel des Stater (in his Theol. Journ. 1795, p. 859-73, 931-45). SEE TRIBUTE.