sestertium: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / ObsoleteAcademic / Historical / Specialised
Quick answer
What does “sestertium” mean?
A unit of money in ancient Rome, specifically a large sum of 1000 sesterces.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A unit of money in ancient Rome, specifically a large sum of 1000 sesterces.
In modern numismatics or historical contexts, refers to this specific ancient Roman denomination, often used when discussing large monetary figures from the Roman era.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage; the term is equally specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes classical scholarship, ancient history, or specialised collecting (numismatics).
Frequency
Extremely rare in general language. Slightly more likely to appear in UK publications due to stronger classical education traditions, but this is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “sestertium” in a Sentence
[Subject] cost/valued/worth [Number] sestertia[Subject] paid/fined [Indirect Object] [Number] sestertiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sestertium” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The estate was sestertiumed at a value of five sestertia in the old records.
- He was sestertiumed for his legal transgression.
American English
- The manuscript recorded that the loot was sestertiumed at ten sestertia.
- The senate sestertiumed the province as reparations.
adverb
British English
- The land was valued sestertiumly, in the old Roman fashion.
- He calculated the debt sestertiumly.
American English
- The inheritance was assessed sestertiumly, not in denarii.
- They priced the contract sestertiumly for historical accuracy.
adjective
British English
- The sestertium sum was beyond imagining for the common plebeian.
- He dealt in sestertium amounts of capital.
American English
- The sestertium valuation of the temple treasury was staggering.
- A sestertium-level fine was imposed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used in historical economics, classical studies, translations of Latin texts.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in numismatics (coin collecting/study) when cataloguing or valuing ancient Roman currency.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sestertium”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sestertium”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sestertium”
- Using it to refer to a single coin (it's a sum of 1000 coins).
- Spelling it as 'sestercium'.
- Using it in a modern financial context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not a single coin. It was a money of account, representing a large sum of 1,000 sesterces (which were coins).
No, it is exclusively a historical term related to ancient Rome and would be incorrect and confusing if used in a modern financial context.
In ancient Roman inscriptions and some academic writing, it was abbreviated as 'HS', derived from 'nummus sestertius'.
A sestertium was not a physical object but a sum. The individual sesterce coins that comprised it were originally silver and later debased to bronze.
A unit of money in ancient Rome, specifically a large sum of 1000 sesterces.
Sestertium is usually academic / historical / specialised in register.
Sestertium: in British English it is pronounced /sɛˈstɜː(r)ʃ(ɪ)əm/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɛˈstɜːrʃ(i)əm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth a sestertium (modern, humorous coinage meaning 'utterly worthless')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SESTER-tium' sounds like 'SAY-stir-chum' – imagine saying to a chum, 'I'd need a thousand sesterces to stir this pot of gold.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A SESTERTIUM is a CONTAINER OF HIGH VALUE (a specific measure of wealth).
Practice
Quiz
In what context would you most likely encounter the word 'sestertium'?