DENARIUS

The chief silver coin among the Romans, worth 8d.; it was the seventh part of a Roman ounce. Also an English penny. The denarius was first coined five years before the first Punic war, B. C. 269. In later times a copper coin was called “denariu8.” Smith, Diet. Antiq. Denarius Dei (Latin: “God’s penny.”) Earnest money; money given as a token of the completion of a bargain. It differs from arrhce in this: that arrha is a part of the consideration, while the denarius Dei is no part of it. The latter was given away in charity; whence the name Denarius tertius comitatus. In old English law. A third part or penny of the county paid to its earl, the other two parts being reserved to the crown.