Illustration of denarius
- denarius of Julius Caesar
- 44 b.c.
denarius
noun
de·nar·i·us
di-ˈner-ē-əs 
plural denarii
di-ˈner-ē-ˌī
-ē-ˌē
1
: a small silver coin of ancient Rome
2
: a gold coin of the Roman Empire equivalent to 25 denarii
Examples of denarius in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
From the collapse of the Roman denarius to the end of the Bretton Woods gold standard, monetary resets are not new.
—
Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
In 2021, archaeologists digging in Augsburg, Germany, discovered a huge collection of over 5,500 Roman denarius coins.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024
Silver denarius coins are rare, but researchers have discovered several examples of them in different parts of the world in recent years.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024
But the analysis of coins from 250 to 350 CE showed declining percentages of silver because the Roman mints gradually debased the denarius to increase their profits.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
The Roman silver denarius was the backbone currency of the Roman Empire between 200 BCE and 300 CE.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
The Roman Empire famously experienced hyperinflation after a series of emperors lowered the silver content in their currency, the denarius, in an attempt to bolster state funds.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
Upon closer inspection and excavation, researchers determined that the find included 175 silver Roman denarii coins.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 May 2023
During that time, 175 denarii would have been a soldier’s salary for about a year and a half, Alderighi said.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 May 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
In 2021, archaeologists digging in Augsburg, Germany, discovered a huge collection of over 5,500 Roman denarius coins.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024
Silver denarius coins are rare, but researchers have discovered several examples of them in different parts of the world in recent years.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Sep. 2024
But the analysis of coins from 250 to 350 CE showed declining percentages of silver because the Roman mints gradually debased the denarius to increase their profits.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
The Roman silver denarius was the backbone currency of the Roman Empire between 200 BCE and 300 CE.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
The Roman Empire famously experienced hyperinflation after a series of emperors lowered the silver content in their currency, the denarius, in an attempt to bolster state funds.
—Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
Upon closer inspection and excavation, researchers determined that the find included 175 silver Roman denarii coins.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 May 2023
During that time, 175 denarii would have been a soldier’s salary for about a year and a half, Alderighi said.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 1 May 2023
Dictionary Entries Near denarius
Cite this Entry
“Denarius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denarius. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share