ASSARIUM, in Antiquity, denotes a small copper coin, being a part or diminutive of the as. The word ἀσάριον is used by Suidas indifferently with ὀβολός and νόμισμα, to denote a small piece of money; but according to Polybius (ii. 15), the assarium was equal to half the ὀβολός, or 3½ farthings. We find mention of the assarium in the gospel of St Matthew, chap. x. ver. 29.