sestertius

Definition
  1. Noun (countable):
    • A Roman coin: The sestertius was a silver (later bronze) coin used in ancient Rome, originally worth two and a half asses (the basic Roman coin). It was a common denomination for trade and everyday transactions.
Usage Examples
  • (An ancient Roman coin.)
  • (A unit of currency for pricing goods.)
Advanced Usage

  • "sestertius" as a unit of account: In Roman law and literature, large sums were often expressed in sestertii (plural).

    • The senator's estate was valued at ten million sestertii. (A vast fortune measured in Roman coins.)

  • "sestertius" in historical texts: The coin is frequently mentioned in the works of Roman historians like Tacitus and Suetonius.

    • He paid a fine of one thousand sestertii for his misconduct. (A penalty in Roman currency.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Sesterce (n): an alternative English spelling of sestertius, often used in historical contexts.

    • The sesterce was minted in large quantities during the early Empire. (A variant form of the coin name.)

  • Sestertii (n, plural): the standard plural form of sestertius.

    • The hoard contained over five hundred sestertii. (Multiple coins.)
Synonyms
  • Coin: a piece of metal used as currency.
  • Denarius: another Roman coin (worth four sestertii), sometimes used as a synonym in broader financial contexts.
Related Idioms

  • "Not worth a sestertius": an expression meaning something is of very little value.

    • His promises are not worth a sestertius. (His promises are worthless.)

  • "Count in sestertii": to evaluate wealth using Roman coinage, often used metaphorically.

    • The merchant counted his profits in sestertii, dreaming of ancient riches. (To measure wealth in an old-fashioned or grandiose way.)