Sestertius

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/sestertius

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What was a sestertius and why was it important in ancient Rome?The sestertius was a Roman coin that started as a small silver piece and later became a big brass coin. It was used for everyday buying and selling and helped keep the empire’s money system working.
2. How did the sestertius change from a silver coin to a brass coin?At first the sestertius was made of silver and not used very often. Later, the Romans made it out of brass, made it larger, and used it a lot more, so people could use it for regular shopping and paying soldiers.

Sestertius: An ancient Roman coin, evolving from silver to a large brass denomination central to the Empire's economy.
Asses: The smallest Roman unit of currency, with 2.5 asses equaling one sestertius.
Denarius: A significant Roman silver coin, equivalent to ten asses or four sestertii.
Roman Republic: The period from 509 BCE to 27 BCE, characterized by a republican form of government in Rome.