A Roman silver coin, equal in value to ten ases (deni-ases
). The word was used in France and England for the inferior coins,
whether silver or copper, and for ready money generally. Now d (
denarius) stands for money less than a shilling, as £ s. d.
“The denarius ... shown to our Lord ... was the tribute-money
payable by the Jews to the Roman emperor, and must not be confounded
with the tribute paid to the Temple.” —F. H. Madden: Jewish
Coinage, chap. xi. p. 247.
Denarius Dei
[God's penny]. An earnest of a bargain, which was given to the
church or poor. Denarii St. Petri [Peter's pence]. One penny
from each family, given to the Pope.
Denarius tertius comitatus.
One-third of the pence of the county, which was paid to the earl.
The other two-thirds belonged to the Crown. (See D.)
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
