What Is This Tool?
This tool allows users to convert weight values from mina (Biblical Greek), an ancient unit of mass, to grain [gr], a traditional small unit of mass used in various modern contexts such as ballistics and pharmacy.
How to Use This Tool?
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Enter the value in mina (Biblical Greek) you wish to convert
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Select the from unit as mina (Biblical Greek) and the to unit as grain [gr]
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Click the convert button to get the resulting value in grain
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Use the results to assist in historical or scientific interpretation of weights
Key Features
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Converts ancient mina units to modern grain units with a specific conversion rate
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Supports interpretation of historical and archaeological data involving precious metals and monetary weights
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Browser-based and easy to use without requiring installation
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Includes examples to demonstrate conversion calculations
Examples
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Convert 2 mina to grain: 2 × 5247.001839986 = 10494.003679972 grain
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Convert 0.5 mina to grain: 0.5 × 5247.001839986 = 2623.500919993 grain
Common Use Cases
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Interpreting large ancient payments and temple contributions recorded in mina
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Translating classical Greek economic accounts of silver weights into grains
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Analyzing archaeological finds and historical monetary records for research purposes
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Serving as a bridge between old measurement systems and modern weight units
Tips & Best Practices
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Be aware that the exact weight of a mina varied historically, so treat conversions as approximations
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Use this conversion primarily for research, historical, or interpretative applications rather than exact scientific measurements
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Cross-check results when applying to archaeological or numismatic data for best accuracy
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Consider the specific historical context when interpreting mina values
Limitations
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The mina’s weight fluctuated by region and era, so its exact mass is not fixed
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Grain is an absolute, precise unit, but the mina’s variability limits exact conversions
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This tool is not designed for contemporary commercial or practical weight measurements
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Conversions assume a standard reference such as the Attic mina around 430 g
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a mina (Biblical Greek)?
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A mina (Biblical Greek) is an ancient unit of mass used in Near Eastern and Greek sources for weighing precious metals and recording large monetary amounts, with its exact weight varying by time and place.
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How precise is the conversion from mina to grain?
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While grains are defined precisely, the weight of a mina varies historically, so conversions use an approximate standard and should be applied cautiously.
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In what fields is this conversion most useful?
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This conversion is mainly used in archaeology, biblical studies, historical economics, precious metals analysis, and numismatics to interpret ancient weights in familiar modern units.
Key Terminology
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Mina (Biblical Greek)
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An ancient unit of mass used in Near Eastern and Greek sources, associated with weighing precious metals and large monetary values, whose exact weight varied by region and time.
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Grain [gr]
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A traditional unit of mass equal to exactly 64.79891 milligrams, used for small weights in contexts like ballistics and pharmacy.
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Conversion Rate
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The factor used to convert between two units; here, 1 mina (Biblical Greek) equals 5247.001839986 grains [gr].