Litra (λίτρα)

A denomination of Greek coins, usually silver and typically from Sicily. "Litra" is a word which was used by the Greeks of Sicily in their system of weights and money and is evidently another form of the Italian word "libra". It was the unit of an uncial system similar to that used in the Roman and Italian weights and money (As and libra). As a coin, the litra was equal in value to the Aeginetan obol; hence the origin of the word may be explained by supposing that the Greeks of Sicily, having brought with them the Aeginetan obol, afterwards assimilated their system of coinage to that used by their Italian neighbors, making their obol to answer to the libra, under the name of "litra". In the same way a Corinthian stater of ten obols was called in Syracuse a δεκἁλιτρον (dekalitron), or piece of ten litrae.

Example

Silver litra, Himera, Sicily, c. 460-400 B.C.

References

Adapted by C.D. Cook from: Philip Smith, "Litra", in William Smith, ed., Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 2nd ed. (Boston: Little, Brown, 1870), p. 709, available online at: http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-dgra/0716.html