Historical tools
Ancient Currency Converter
What was a denarius actually worth? Convert Roman denarii, Greek drachmas, Hebrew shekels, Egyptian deben, and other ancient money to modern US dollars — using silver content, historical purchasing power, and daily-wage comparisons, with examples of what each coin could buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much was a Roman denarius worth in today's money?
A denarius contained about 4.5 grams of silver, worth a few dollars by metal value alone. By purchasing power it was a full day's wage for a laborer or soldier, so estimates range from roughly $20 to $100+ depending on the method — this converter shows both approaches.
How do ancient currency conversions work?
There's no exchange rate spanning 2,000 years, so conversions use proxies: the coin's precious-metal content, what a day's wage bought then versus now, and recorded ancient prices for goods like bread, wine, and livestock.
What were the 30 pieces of silver worth?
The 30 pieces of silver paid to Judas are usually identified as Tyrian shekels. Thirty shekels was also the biblical price of a slave (Exodus 21:32) — roughly four months' wages for a laborer, or a few thousand dollars by modern comparisons.
What's the difference between a drachma and a denarius?
They were near-equivalents: the Greek drachma and Roman denarius both held roughly 4.3–4.5 grams of silver and both represented about a day's wage, which is why Roman tax collectors accepted drachmae interchangeably.