The lowest denomination was the _scrupulum_, which was made equal to 20 sestertii. The weight of the scrupulum was 18·06 grains. The annexed cut represents a gold coin of 60 sestertii. Pliny adds that afterwards aurei were coined of 40 to the pound, which weight was diminished, till under Nero they were 45 to the pound. The average weight of the aurei of Augustus, in the British Museum, is 121·26 grains: and as the weight was afterwards diminished, we may take the average at 120 grains. The value of the aureus in terms of the sovereign = 1_l._ 1_s._ 1_d._ and a little more than a halfpenny. This is its value according to the present worth of gold; but its current value in Rome was different from this, on account of the difference in the worth of the metal. The aureus passed for 25 denarii; therefore, the denarius being 8½_d._, it was worth 17_s._ 8½_d._ The ratio of the value of gold to that of silver is given in the article ARGENTUM. Alexander Severus coined pieces of one-half and one-third of the aureus, called _Semissis_ and _tremissis_, after which time the aureus was called _solidus_. Constantine the Great coined aurei of 72 to the pound; at which standard the coin remained to the end of the empire. [Illustration: Aureus of Augustus. (British Museum.)] AURUM CŎRŌNĀRĬUM. When a general in a Roman province had obtained a victory, it was the custom for the cities in his own provinces, and for those from the neighbouring states, to send golden crowns to him, which were carried before him in his triumph at Rome. In the time of Cicero it appears to have been usual for the cities of the provinces, instead of sending crowns on occasion of a victory, to pay money, which was called _aurum coronarium_. This offering, which was at first voluntary, came to be regarded as a regular tribute, and was sometimes exacted by the governors of the provinces, even when no victory had been gained. AURUM VĪCĒSĬMĀRĬUM. [AERARIUM.] AUSPEX. [AUGUR.] AUSPĬCĬUM. [AUGUR.] AUTHEPSA (αὐθέψης), which literally means “self-boiling,” or “self-cooking,” was the name of a vessel which is supposed to have been used for heating water, or for keeping it hot. AUTŎNŎMI (αὐτονόμοι), the name given by the Greeks to those states which were governed by their own laws, and were not subject to any foreign power. This name was also given to those cities subject to the Romans, which were permitted to enjoy their own laws and elect their own magistrates. AUXĬLĬA. [SOCII.] AXĀMENTA. [SALII.] AXĪNĒ. [SECURIS.] AXIS. [CURRUS.]