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Webster 1913 Edition

Sesterce

Ses′terce

,
Noun.
[L.
sestertius
(sc.
nummus
), fr.
sestertius
two and a half;
semis
half +
tertius
third: cf. F.
sesterce
.]
(Rom. Antiq.)
A Roman coin or denomination of money, in value the fourth part of a denarius, and originally containing two asses and a half, afterward four asses, – equal to about two pence sterling, or four cents.
☞ The sestertium was equivalent to one thousand sesterces, equal to £8 17s 1d. sterling, or about $43 (in 1900), before the reign of Augustus. After his reign its value was about £7 16s. 3d. sterling. The sesterce was originally coined only in silver, but later both in silver and brass.

Webster 1828 Edition

Sesterce

SES'TERCE

,
Noun.
[L. sestertius.] A Roman coin or denomination of money, in value the fourth part of a denarius, and originally containing two asses and a half, about two pence sterling or four cents.The sestertium, that is, sestertium pondus, was two pounds and a half, or two hundred and fifty denarii; about seven pounds sterling, or thirty one dollars. One qualification of a Roman knight was the possession of estate of the value of four hundred thousand sesterces; that of a senator was double this sum.
Authors mention a copper sesterce, of the value of one third of a penny sterling.

Definition 2024

sesterce

sesterce

English

Noun

sesterce ‎(plural sesterces)

  1. an ancient Roman coin made of bronze or silver, equalling a quarter of a denarius
    • 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.3.3:
      Nonius the senator hath a purple coat as stiff with jewels as his mind is full of vices; rings on his fingers worth 20,000 sesterces […]
    • 1985, Anthony Burgess, Kingdom of the Wicked:
      For him I must convert one of my sheep or goats to sesterces and slaughter another for his entertainment.

Synonyms

Translations

Anagrams

Etymology

From Latin sēstertius ‎(“that is two-and-a-half”), from sēmis ‎(“half”) + tertius ‎(“third”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈsɛstɜːs/

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