Denarius (deni, 'ten each'), the principal silver coin among the Romans, was equal to ten ases, but upon the reduction of the weight of the as, the denarius equalled sixteen of it. It was first coined 269 B.C. Its weight at the end of the Roman commonwealth is estimated at 60 grains, while under the empire the weight was 52·5 grains of silver. The value of the denarius under the republic was thus rather more than 8½d., and of the later period about 7½d. From denarius come the Persian dinār and the English slang deaner, 'a shilling.'