SOLIDUS (COIN)

A 'solidus' (the Latin word for ''solid'') was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans.
It was introduced by Constantine I in 309–10, and was used through the Byzantine Empire until the 10th century. The coin replaced the aureus as the main gold coin of the Roman Empire.
The name ''solidus'' had previously been used by Diocletian (284–305) for the gold coin that he introduced, which is different from the solidus introduced by Constantine. The coin was struck at a theoretical value of 1/72 of a Roman pound (about 4.5 grams). Solidi were wider and thinner than the Aureus, with the exception of some lower quality issues from the Byzantine Empire. The weight and fineness of the solidus remained relatively constant throughout its long production. Fractions of the solidus known as ''semissis'' (half-solidi) and ''tremissis'' (one-third solidi) were also produced.
The word ''soldier'' is ultimately derived from ''solidus'', referring to the solidi with which soldiers were paid.

Contents

Impact on world currencies

France

Italy

Spain and Peru

United Kingdom

See also

Impact on world currencies

Variations on the word ''solidus'' gave rise to a number of currency units:

France

To this day, ''sou'' is used as slang for money, as in ''sans le sou''. "I'm broke", "without money". It is also a slang term for the Canadian cent (standard French, ''cent'').

Italy

The name of the medieval Italian ''soldo'' (plural ''soldi'') was derived from ''solidus''.
This word is still in common use today in Italy in its plural ''soldi'' with the same meaning that the english equivalent ''money''.

Spain and Peru

The name of the medieval Spanish ''sueldo'' (which also means salary) was derived from ''solidus'', which is also used in the Philippines as ''Suweldo''. Subsequently the name of the Peruvian ''sol'' (more formally ''sol de oro'' intended to mean ''gold solidus'') was derived from this name although, because ''sol'' actually means ''sun'' in Spanish (from the Latin ''sol''), the etymology of the currency's name is commonly misunderstood.

United Kingdom

Until decimalisation in the United Kingdom in 1971, the abbreviation ''s.'', from ''solidus'', was used to represent shillings, just as ''d.'' and £, from ''denarius'' and ''Libra'', were respectively used to represent pence and pounds, leading to the abbreviation "£sd".

See also

★ Roman currency

★ Byzantine coinage

★ Solidus (punctuation)

★ Slash (punctuation) (also called a solidus)