For an ancient coin about the size of a modern dime or slightly larger, many Greek silver drachms fit this category. Greek drachms commonly range from about 14 to 18 millimeters in diameter, roughly matching or slightly exceeding the 17.9 mm diameter of a U.S. dime. The weight typically falls between 3 and 6 grams depending on the issuing city and weight standard, with the Attic drachm from Athens weighing about 4.3 grams.
A classic example would be the Attic drachm featuring the iconic owl of Athena on the reverse and the head of Athena on the obverse. These coins combine practical size for daily commerce with intricate artistry and clear symbolism. The 14 to 18 mm size range allowed these silver coins to be easily carried and used in transactions while maintaining detailed design elements. Other drachm variants from cities like Corinth, Aegina, or Rhodes also fall into this early fractional silver currency size bracket.
In Roman contexts, AE3 bronze coins, typically 17 to 21 mm in diameter, come close to this size range as well, roughly comparable to a dime or slightly larger. These smaller denominations were common for everyday use and sometimes featured emperors’ portraits with reverse depictions of Roman deities or symbolic themes.
In summary, ancient silver drachms from classical Greek mints, particularly those struck under the Attic standard, are about the size of or a bit larger than a modern dime. Their 14–18 mm diameter range, combined with artistic detail, makes them popular among collectors seeking small but visually rich ancient coins.
















