antoninianus

A1N1T1O1N1I1N1I1A1N1U1S1

noun

A silver coin used during the Roman Empire, equal to two denarii.

OriginLate Latin Antōnīniānus →
RareScrabble 12
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Meanings

nounantoninianus (plural antoniniani or antoninianuses)

plural antoniniani · plural antoninianuses

  1. historicalhobbiesA silver coin used during the Roman Empire, equal to two denarii.

    From the 5th year on, Iuppiter conservator coins are continuously produced actually on antoninianuses;

    1972, Dissertationes Archaelogicae
    2 more examples

    The coins were base silver antoninianuses of Decius, coins that had not been in circulation for more than 200 years.[…]The gold are extremely rare, but choice specimens of the debased silver antoninianuses can be purchased for less than $100 each.

    1980 July 27, Edward C. Rochette, “Coin Roundup…”, in The Indianapolis Star, section 5, page 4

    Whether you enjoy coins for their beauty, history, romance, or antiquity, these ancient Roman antoninianuses are sure to please.

    1985 January, “Treasures of the Roman Empire”, in Special Coin Letter, number 1005, page 5

Origin

  1. Late LatinAntōnīniānus“pertaining to Antoninus”
  2. Englishantoninianus

From Late Latin Antōnīniānus (“pertaining to Antoninus”). Speculatively named in modern times after an Antoninus mentioned in the Augustan History, after whom some silver coins were said to be named. However, it is not known what this coin was called in antiquity.

More words from Late Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French antoninien
  • antoninienRoman silver coin
German Antoninian
  • AntoninianRoman silver coin
Portuguese antoniniano
  • antoninianoRoman silver coin
Spanish antoniniano
  • antoninianoRoman silver coin

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with antoninianus

UranusJanusheinousgaynesspandanusgreynessfeynesspassénessveinous
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

antoninianus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antoninianus

MLA

“antoninianus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antoninianus. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antoninianus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antoninianus.

Source: antoninianus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.