Delineation of Numismatic Science

and the same is read in the Chifletian manuscript of Pliny, according to CLAUDE CHIFLET in his book On Ancient Coin, Chapter VII, and in the edition of JOHANN HARDOUIN, Paris, 1723, folio. Cf. ROSINUS, Roman Antiquities, Book VIII, Chapter 20, p. 853.

The silver coin, called the denarius, formerly consisted of ten asses, or was exchanged for 10 pounds of bronze; after the denarius, it was decided that it should be exchanged for 16 asses: its symbol was the letter X: but denarii varied in value, just as the asses did. See PLINY, loc. cit.

The gold coin was struck sixty-two years after the silver one, in the year U.C. 547, and the gold coins were first called denarii of gold. See PLINY, loc. cit.

The value of gold coins was various, just as their weight also was various at different times, sometimes diminished; hence neither can a certain price of the same be determined. However, it is certain that the solidus of CONSTANTINE THE GREAT had the value of twelve denarii. Cf. Chapter III, §. 20, 21.