Sestertius Sestertius The sestertius (plural sestertii), or sesterce (plural sesterces), was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin. The name "sestertius" means "two and one half", referring to its nominal value of two and a half "asses" (a bronze Roman coin, singular "as"), a value that was useful for commerce because it was one quarter of a denarius, a coin worth ten "asses". The name is derived from "semis", "half" and "tertius", "third", in which "third" refers to the
Merk (coin) Merk (coin) The merk was a Scottish silver coin. Originally the same word as a money mark of silver, the merk was in circulation at the end of the 16th century and in the 17th century. It was originally valued at 13"s." 4"d." (exactly of a pound Scots, or about one English shilling), later raised to 14"s." Scots. In addition to merks, half-merk and quarter-merk coins were produced with values of, respectively, 7"s." and 3"s." 6"d.", as well as a four-merk coin of 56"s." (£2 16"s."). The first issue weighed and was 50% silver and 50% base metals, thus it