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DENARIUS

Volume 7 · 99 words · 1860 Edition

in Roman Antiquity, the chief silver coin among the Romans, worth in our money about 7½d. It was originally of 62 grains weight; and was considered equivalent to the Attic drachma, which, however, weighed 67 grams. It was originally one-seventh, but afterwards fell to one-eighth ounce. (See Arbutnott on Coins.) There was also a golden denarius, of which there is a specimen in the British Museum weighing 60 grams, besides others of less weight. As a weight it was equal to the seventh part of a Roman ounce.

Denarius is also used in our law-books for ar. English penny.