Convert Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap) to Denarius (Biblical Roman) (denarius) instantly.
About these units
Scruple (Apothecary) (s.ap)
The scruple is an old apothecary unit equal to 20 grains or 1.2959782 grams, originating in ancient Greek and Roman medicine. Apothecaries used scruples for compounding herbal remedies, powders, and tinctures long before standardized metric systems were adopted. Its size made it ideal for preparing early pharmaceuticals where doses needed to be accurate but not excessively granular. Over centuries, the scruple appeared in medical recipes, early scientific writings, and even medieval charms and remedies. Although obsolete today, replaced by milligrams and grams, the scruple is vital for historians studying early medical texts, pharmacy records, and classical-era scientific practices.
Denarius (Biblical Roman) (denarius)
The denarius, about 3.9–4.5 grams, was the standard Roman silver coin of the early empire and appears frequently in the New Testament. It was considered a typical day's wage for a laborer, providing historians with a powerful economic reference point. As a mass unit, the denarius represents a consistent silver weight upon which Roman taxation and commercial pricing depended. Its stability made it a backbone of Roman monetary policy. Its appearance in religious texts shows how deeply embedded Roman economics were in the daily lives of conquered regions.