Convert Pennyweight (pwt) to Drachma (Biblical Greek) (drachma) instantly.
About these units
Pennyweight (pwt)
The pennyweight, equal to 1/20 of a troy ounce or 1.55517384 grams, is a unit used primarily in the precious metals and jewelry industries. Its origins lie in medieval English coinage, when the weight of silver pennies provided a practical standard for small masses. Jewelers continue to use the pennyweight because many traditional pricing structures and metalworking conventions are built around troy-based subdivisions. For gold, silver, and dental alloys, the pennyweight remains easier to work with than grams due to long-established norms. Even though the metric system is now dominant scientifically, the pennyweight persists because industries tied to history—especially those involving money and precious goods—tend to maintain deeply rooted practices.
Drachma (Biblical Greek) (drachma)
The drachma, roughly 4.3 grams, served as the principal Greek silver unit for centuries. Both a mass and a monetary unit, the drachma appears extensively in ancient writings, from philosophy to commerce to biblical passages. The term originates from "a handful," linking the weight to early barter practices. Over time, it became a symbol of civic identity—different city-states minted distinct drachmas with unique iconography. Its influence survives in the name of Greece's former national currency, the drachma, reinforcing its cultural legacy.