CHALCUS

( χαλκοῦς ), a denomination of Greek copper-money. Bronze or copper ( χαλκός ) was very little used by the Greeks for money till after the time of Alexander the Great. The χαλκία πονηρὰ at Athens i ued in B.C. 406 were a peculiar exception; and they were soon afterwards called in, and the silver currency restored. It is not improbable, however, that the copper coin called χαλκοῦς was in circulation in Athens still earlier. The smallest silver coin at Athens was the quarter-obol, and the χαλκοῦς was the half of that, or the eighth of an obol. Its value was somewhat more than 3-4ths of a farthing. The χαλκοῦς in later times was divided into lepta, of which it contained seven. In later times the obol was coined of copper as well as silver.