WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Ses"terce
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [L. sestertius (sc. nummus), fr. sestertius two and a half; semis half + tertius third: cf. F. sesterce.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Definition : Defn: A Roman coin or denomination of money, in value the fourth part of a denarius, and originally containing two asses and a half, afterward four asses, -- equal to about two pence sterling, or four cents.

Note: The sestertium was equivalent to one thousand sesterces, equal to ?8 17s 1d. sterling, or about $43, before the reign of Augustus. After his reign its value was about ?7 16s. 3d. sterling. The sesterce was originally coined only in silver, but later both in silver and brass.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913