Date
Name Aureus
Gender Masculine
Usage Late Roman
Pronounced Pron. AWR-ee-əs (English), OW:-re-oos (Latin)
Other Forms FormsAurea (feminine)
Edit Status Status
Meaning & History
Means "golden, gilded" in Latin, from #aurum# "gold" (see AUREA). An #aureus# was also a gold coin of ancient Rome, equivalent to 25 denarii. This was the name of a Christian saint who was martyred in the 5th century with his sister Saint Justina at the cathedral of Mainz in Germany; they were killed by invading Huns while celebrating Mass.