denarius

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the principal silver coin of ancient Rome, originally worth ten asses and later sixteen, and equal to four sesterces

   The museum displayed a silver denarius struck during Hadrian's reign.

Borrowed from Latin denarius, short for denarius nummus, 'coin containing ten,' from deni, 'ten each.' The name reflects its original value of ten bronze asses; it was later retariffed at sixteen asses while remaining equal to four sesterces. Denier, dinar, and dinero descend from the same Latin word.

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