Didrachma
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(two drachmas) (Matt. 17:24) — a Greek silver coin, equal in our reckoning to about 48 kopecks silver. It was equal to half a shekel and was collected, by the Law of Moses, for the Temple from every Jew who had reached twenty years of age (Exod. 30:11–16). After the destruction of Jerusalem, Vespasian ordered this small coin to be paid into the state treasury.