nummus (thus written in the better MSS., others nūmus), i (gen. plur. usu. nummūm, but nummorum, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 115; Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 49, § 117; Hor. S. 2, 3, 149, etc.), m. [from root νέμω; cf. numerus], a piece of money, a coin, money.
I In gen.: adulterini, counterfeit money , Cic. Off. 3, 23, 91: adulterati, Paul. Sent. 5, 25, 1: aurei, Cic. Phil. 12, 8, 20: plumbei, Plaut. Most. 4, 2, 11: argenteus, Vulg. 1 Reg. 2, 36: putat suos nummos vos comedisse, Cic. Att. 6, 1, 25: habere in nummis, in ready money , id. Off. 8, 10, 1; id. Verr. 2, 3, 86, § 199; cf.: (hominem) non modo in aere alieno nullo, sed in suis nummis multis esse et semper fuisse, id. ib. 2, 4, 6, § 11; jactabatur enim temporibus illis nummus sic, ut nemo posset scire, quid haberet, the value of money fluctuated , id. Off. 3, 20, 80: asper, i. e. not worn smooth by use , Pers. 3, 69; cf. Sen. Ep. 19, 10: crescit amor nummi, Juv. 14, 139.—
II In partic.
A A Roman silver coin, called also nummus sestertius, and simply sestertius (v. sestertius), a sesterce : eccos trīs nummos habes, Plaut. Men. 1, 4, 1: cogit Scandilium quinque illa milia nummum dare atque annumerare Apronio, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 60, § 140; cf. id. ib. 2, 3, 61, § 140: binis milibus nummum, Plin. 17, 1, 1, § 8; cf. for the gen. nummūm, Cic. Or. 46, 156, and v. Ritschl, prol. p. 89; gen. nummorum, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 5; Suet. Aug. 46 fin. ; id. Dom. 4 fin. ; Plin. 8, 43, 68, § 167—With sestertius , Liv. 8, 11: percipere mille nongentos quinquaginta sestertios nummos, Col. 3, 3, 9: sestertiis sescentis nummis, id. 3, 3, 9, § 13.—
2 Transf., like our farthing, cent , to denote a very small sum, a trifle, low price , etc.: assident, subducunt, ad nummum convenit, to a farthing, to a cent , Cic. Att. 5, 21, 12: ecquis est ex tanto populo, qui bona C. Rabirii nummo sestertio sibi addici velit? at a farthing's value , id. Rab. Post. 17, 45; id. Fin. 2, 17, 55: quae maxima inter vos habentur, divitiae, gratia, potentia, sestertio nummo aestimanda sunt, Sen. Ep. 95, 59: damnatus ... et sestertio nummo veniit, Liv. Epit. 55; Plaut. Most. 1, 2, 34.—
B As a Greek coin, two drachmae (only in Plaut.): illi sunt drachumis miseri; me nemo potest Minoris quisquam nummo, ut surgam, subigere, Plaut. Ps. 3, 2, 19: Me. Quibus hic pretiis porci veneunt sacres sinceri? Cy. Nummo, id. Men. 2, 2, 16; id. Ep. 1, 1, 52; id. Aul. 3, 2, 34.