sesterce

SES'TERCE, noun [Latin 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. Sesterce was also used by the ancients for a thing two holes and a half; the as being taken for the integer.