Compleat Gentleman 1634

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1906. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... counts, and therefore it is expressed in many places of good Authors by the word Nummus absolutely. It had anciently the figures of Castor and Pollux on it. But Pliny ut. 3+. uf. 4.. teacheth us that the Sestertius was also of brasse, and that of the best, which they called Martian, and our vulgar Antiquaries suppose to be Corinthian, and weighed about an ounce. Obolus (saith Ce/fus) was equall to the Atticke obol, Goldbeing the sixt part of a denarius, and therefore a penny farthing English. The Aureus varied as the denarius did. For the first jumu. Imperials weigh about two drammes, double the weight of a denarius, and worth 17. s. 6.6. of our money. The Consulars are two or three millings better. The later peeces which began in Alexander Sever us his time were Scmifli, . reduced to halfe an aureus, and then to a third, and therefore called SemiJJis aurei, and Tremijjts aurei or Triens: Tremiflis. the Semijsts weighing a dram worth eight {hillings nine pence, the Tremijjts five millings ten pence. Whereupon the old Imperialls, and Consulars were called Solidl. There was also a Scruple of gold worth about two Scmfuium. shillings three pence. After the Empire was translated to Constantinople, other coynes with other names were minted, as; Miliaristum, weighing two drammes, and worth 1. s. 3 .d. MUUnfmm. Ceration or Siliqua, of the weight of a dramme, worth. Ceratium. 7. ob. Follis a brasse coyne, so called because it was thinne like Fmu. a leafe, worth neere upon a halfe penny. The Romane summes were. Romane sumi. Sestertium, It comprehended one thousand sesterties, Seilmium. that is seven pound sixteene shillings three pence. And heere I will give a note, concerning the Romane fashion of accounting by sesterties. For decem sestertu are tenne sester ties..