SESTERTIUM Meaning and
Definition
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Sestertium is a term with its roots in ancient Roman currency. It refers to a large sum of money or a unit of account equal to 1,000 sesterces. The sestertius, a silver coin used in the Roman Empire, was worth one-quarter of a denarius, which itself was equivalent to ten asses. The sestertium, therefore, was equal to 1,000 times the value of the sestertius.
In the Roman monetary system, the sestertium was a significant amount of wealth. It was often used to denote large transactions, such as the purchase of property, loans, or the transfer of substantial sums. The term also served as a measure of personal wealth, as individuals' net worth could be expressed in sestertium.
In modern usage, the term sestertium is primarily employed in historical or financial contexts to discuss the economic affairs of the Roman Empire. It provides insight into the immense sums of money involved in ancient Roman economics and trade. Furthermore, sestertium reveals the hierarchical structure of Roman society, as the possession of large quantities of sesterces allowed individuals to wield significant economic and social influence.
Overall, sestertium stands as a testament to the Roman Empire's sophisticated monetary system and its impact on the social and economic fabric of the time.
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Equal to 1000 sesterces, or about £8 sterling.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for SESTERTIUM
- aestertium
- zestertium
- xestertium
- destertium
- eestertium
- westertium
- swstertium
- ssstertium
- sdstertium
- srstertium
- s4stertium
- s3stertium
- seatertium
- seztertium
- sextertium
- sedtertium
- seetertium
- sewtertium
- sesrertium
- sesfertium
Etymology of SESTERTIUM
The word "sestertium" has its origin in the Latin language. It is derived from the Latin word "sestertius", which was a unit of currency in ancient Rome. The term "sestertium" is the neuter form of "sestertius", and it refers to a sum of money equal to a thousand sesterces (plural of sestertius). The sestertius itself was originally valued at two and a half asses, which were smaller denominations of Roman currency. Over time, the term "sestertium" evolved to represent a large sum of money or wealth.
Similar spelling words for SESTERTIUM
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