δίδραχμον, διδράχμου, τό (neuter of the adjective δίδραχμος, δίδραχμον, namely, νόμισμα; from δίς and δραχμή), a didrachmon or double-drachma, a silver coin equal to two Attic drachmas or one Alexandrian, or half a shekel (about one third of a dollar) (see in ἀργύριον, 3): Mat_17:24. (the Sept. often for ωΖΡχΖμ; (Pollux, Galen).)

δίδραχμον didrachmon 2x a didrachmon or double drachma, a silver coin equal to the drachma of Alexandria, to two Attic drachmas, to two Roman denarii, and to the half-shekel of the Jews, Mat_17:24 (2x)

† δίδραχμος , -ον ( < δίς , δραχμή ), worth two drachmae; τὸ δ . ( sc . νόμισμα , coin ), [in LXX chiefly for H8255 ( Gen_23:15 , a1.), also for H3701 : Gen_20:16 , Deu_22:29 ;] a double drachma, nearly equal to the Jewish half-shekel , the amount of the Temple tax: Mat_17:24 ( DB , iii, 428).†

δίδραχμον [page 159] With the Jewish Temple tax of τὸ δίδραχμον ( Mat_17:24 ) may be compared a tax for a similar amount for the temple of Suchus : cf. e.g. the receipt for this tax in P Tebt II. 281 (B.C. 125) and BGU III. 748 iii. 5 (A.D. 48) where it is paid upon a sale of house property διαγέγραφ (ας ) τὴν διδραχμία (ν ) τοῦ Σούχου θεοῦ μεγάλο (υ ) μεγάλο (υ ) ἧς ἐώνησαι οἰκί (ας ) κτλ . See further Wilcken Ostr. i. p. 360, Otto Priester i. p. 356 f., ii. p. 334. Can we recognize it in P Tebt II. 404 .12 (late iii/A.D.) λόγος τῶν διδράχμων στατῆρες ξ̄ζ̄ , on account of the didrachms 67 staters (Edd.)? If so, it is a very close parallel to τὰ δίδραχμα in Mt l.c. , with the same use of the article and absence of further definition. In P Amh II. 50 .20 (B.C. 106 a loan of money) provision is made for τοῦ ὑπερπεσόντος χρόνου τόκους διδράχμους τῆς μνᾶς τὸν μῆνα ἕκαστον , the overtime interest at the rate of two drachmae on the mina each month (Edd., who remark that this is 24% a year, the ordinary rate required upon loans not paid back at the specified date ). For δίδραγμον in late MSS. of the LXX, see Thackeray Gr. i. p. 103.

δίδραχμος, -ον (δίς, δραχμή), worth two drachmae; τὸ δ. (sc. νόμισμα, coin), [in LXX chiefly for שֶׁקֶל (Gen.23:15, a1.), also for כֶּסֶף: Gen.20:16, Deu.22:29 ;] a double drachma, nearly equal to the Jewish half-shekel, the amount of the Temple tax: Mat.17:24 (DB, iii, 428).† (AS)