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ASSARIUM

Volume 3 · 67 words · 1860 Edition

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