Money

In the sense of coin the ancient Egyptians had no money. The first appearance of a coinage was during the Persian occupation; but no real currency was established until the Ptolemaic times. Gold for purchase-money was weighed. Under the New Empire it was made in the form of rings, but even then was weighed. The rings seem to have varied in thickne , though having a uniform diameter of about 5 ins. Such a weighing out is frequently depicted on the tomb and temple walls. “Mr. Poole’s researches into the very complicated numismatics of the Ptolemaic Dynasty” show that the first Ptolemy established a silver coinage on the basis of the Attic drachma as the ordinary silver unit.” There was both silver and copper coinage. (See Uten and Trade.)