obole
medieval coin
Also known as: half-denier
Quick Summary
The obole was a medieval French coin equivalent to a half denier. It is also known as an obolus. The term "obol" itself originates from ancient Greece, where it represented a coin or weight equal to one-sixth of a drachma. The word "obelus" also shares this root and historically referred to a symbol used in ancient manuscripts to mark questionable passages. While the obole was a specific medieval currency, the term "obol" has older roots in ancient Greek coinage and measurement.123
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