II. From the light gold shekel of 130 grains we get the so-called Babylonian or Persian standard:
| 130 × 13·3 | = | 1729 grains of silver. |
|---|---|---|
| 1729 grains of silver | = | 10 shekels of 172·9 grains each. |
On the silver shekel or stater of 172·9 grains the Babylonic, Lydian, and Persian silver standard may be thus constructed:—
| Talent | = | 518,700 | grains | = | 3000 | staters | = | 6000 | sigli. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mina | = | 8645 | grains | = | 50 | ” | = | 100 | ” |
| Stater | = | 172·9 | grains | = | 1 | ” | = | 2 | ” |
| Siglos | = | 86·45 | grains.” |
It is desirable “to take note of the fact that in Asia Minor and in the earliest periods of the art of coining, (α) the heavy gold stater (260 grains) occurs at various places, from Teos northwards as far as the shores of the Propontis; (β) the light gold stater (130 grains) in Lydia (Κροίσειος στατήρ) and in Samos (?); (γ) the electrum stater of the Phoenician silver standard, chiefly at Miletus, but also at other towns along the west coast of Asia Minor, as well as in Lydia, but never however in full weight; (δ) the electrum and silver stater of the Babylonic standard, chiefly if not solely in Lydia; (ε) the silver stater of the Phoenician standard (230 grains) on the west coast of Asia Minor12.”
Here we may call attention to the fact that whilst Miletus struck her electrum staters on the Phoenician silver standard (their normal weight being 217 grains), the Phocaeans always from the infancy of coining employed for their electrum the gold standard of the heavy shekel (260 grains). But the proper time for discussing why the Lydians, Milesians and Phocaeans all struck their electrum coins of various standards, will come further on in our enquiry.