solidus etymology

Etymology:

  • Latin: solidus, meaning "solid" or "firm"

Meaning:

A solidus is a unit of weight and a coin used in the Roman Empire. It was originally a gold coin issued by Emperor Constantine I in 309 AD. The solidus became the standard gold coin of the Roman economy for centuries and remained in use until the 11th century in the Byzantine Empire.

Origin:

The Latin word "solidus" originally referred to a Roman pound of solidified metal. In the 4th century, Emperor Constantine I ordered the production of a gold coin equivalent to one-seventy-second of a pound of gold. This coin was called the "solidus" due to its solid, unalloyed nature.

Historical Significance:

  • The solidus was one of the most important coins in the history of the Roman Empire.
  • It played a crucial role in stabilizing the Roman economy after the Crisis of the Third Century.
  • The solidus also served as the basis for the Byzantine hyperpyron and the Carolingian denier.
  • The name "solidus" is still used in some languages today to refer to a unit of gold weight or currency. For example, in Portugal, a gold coin called the "escudo de ouro" was introduced in 1 pound (453.59 grams) denominations until 1910.

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