sestertius
9.9
A coin used in ancient Rome to buy things
- noun
- /sɛˈstɜrtiəs/
- Archaic
:
sestercio
- Archaeologists discovered a rare sestertius in the ruins of the ancient villa.
Examples
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The merchant demanded ten sestertii for the goods at the Roman market.
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The sestertius was a common currency in ancient Rome.
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In Roman literature, a sestertius often appears as a symbol of wealth or payment.
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I found a sestertius while digging in my garden.
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The merchant demanded ten sestertii for the goods at the Roman market.
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Archaeologists discovered a rare sestertius in the ruins of the ancient villa.
-
The sestertius was a common currency in ancient Rome.
Synonyms
9.9
An old coin from Roman or Byzantine times
is a specific Roman denomination and unit used across Republic and Empire
Surface Forms
sestertius singular
sestertii plural
Etymology
Sestertius comes from the Latin parts semis 'half' and tertius 'third', so it originally meant 'two and a half'. The coin was worth two and a half small coins called the as, so its name simply tells its value.
