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
The hoard consists of 25 silver denarii in total, equal to the monthly salary of a Roman legionary — or citizen soldier.
—
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
The silver coins — called denarii — were introduced in Rome in 211 B.C. and were the dominant form of currency for about 500 years, per the Art Institute of Chicago.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 May 2025
Of these, 288 are denarii, the standard silver coin, and 72 are aurei, a denser, golden coin that was originally worth 25 denarii.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
Most of these were Roman silver denarii minted between 200 B.C. and 47 A.D., experts said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
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
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Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2025
The silver coins — called denarii — were introduced in Rome in 211 B.C. and were the dominant form of currency for about 500 years, per the Art Institute of Chicago.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 18 May 2025
Of these, 288 are denarii, the standard silver coin, and 72 are aurei, a denser, golden coin that was originally worth 25 denarii.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Jan. 2025
Most of these were Roman silver denarii minted between 200 B.C. and 47 A.D., experts said.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Denarius.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/denarius. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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