416 VALUE OF ROMAN MONEY. 



The value of the sestertium resulting from the value of the 

 denarius which I have quoted is 8. 19s. 8d., though by some 

 error of calculation it is reduced to 8. 17s. Id.; the real value 

 is 8. 8s. 8J</., so that the two mistakes, like Gronovius's, tell 

 against one another. 



It is curious that the later value of the denarius gives the 

 sestertium 7. 7s. 7^d., a sum in 7 as the other in 8. 



In the article Aureus, the writer says that the sovereign con- 

 tains 113'12 grains of fine gold. It really contains (neglecting 

 the third place of decimals) neither more nor less than 113 

 grains. The result is that lie gives the aureus as 1. Is. Id., 

 and a little more than a half-penny, instead of as nearly as 

 possible 1. Is. 2d. 



The following is an outline of my calculation : 



Eequired the price of 60 grains of silver, ffths fine, at 

 per ounce, standard. (1 ounce = 480 gr.) 



X = 6 480 37 30 ' ( Standard bein f$ tlls fine ') 

 31 x 29 



-D n . 

 Reducing, 



31 x 29 = 30 2 - 1 = 899, 



3 x 37 = 111, 



x = 8*099^. = value of early denarius, 

 250 denarii = 1 sestertium, 



240 pence =1; 



,,809-9 101-23 

 value of sestertium = = - = 8*435, 



y o 2 



= 8. 8s. Sd. 4 or 8. 8s. 8^d. nearly. 



The later denarius is 52-5 gr. or 8'75 of the earlier, and the 

 sestertium is in the same proportion. 



