sesterce

noun

ses·terce ˈse-ˌstərs

: an ancient Roman coin equal to ¹/₄ denarius

Examples of sesterce in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Food was brought from Ostia and neighboring towns, and the price of corn was cut to one-quarter sesterce a pound. —

Gaia Squarci, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Sep. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Latin sestertius, from sestertius two and a half times as great (from its being equal originally to two and a half asses), from semis half of an as, one half + tertius third — more at sesqui-, third entry 1

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sesterce was in 1598

See more words from the same year