DANACES
DANACES (δανάκης, which spelling is probably more correct than Danace). Some people, according to Pollux (9.82), held this to be a Persian coin. The word seems to be derived from the Persian dánaka, which means a portion, more especially the fourth or sixth [p. 1.597]part. It was probably the sixth of the Persian siglos or shekel of 86 grains, a denomination not to be found in the regular Persian coinage, but which does exist among the coins issued in Cilicia by Persian satraps. It would in this case be somewhat heavier than the Attic obol, 14.6 grains against 11. ; and this is just the value assigned to it by Hesychius (s. v.). This writer also says that the coin was placed in the mouth of corpses as the fee of Charon (cf. |
| Danaces of Tarsus. (British Museum.) |
Lucian, de Luctu, 100.10; Mort. Dial. 1.3, 11.4, 22.1); and in modern excavations small coms have sometimes been found in that place. (Stackelberg, Gräber der Hellenen, p. 42; Becker-Göll, Charikles, iii. p. 119.)
[P.G]