The as (pl.: assēs), occasionally assarius (pl.: assarii; Ancient Greek: ἀσσάριον, romanized: assárion), was a bronze, and later copper, coin used during the Roman Republic and Roman Empire.
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As (Roman coin) in the context of Denarius
The denarius (Latin: [deːˈnaːriʊs]; pl.: dēnāriī, Latin: [deːˈnaːriiː]) was the standard Roman silver coin from its introduction in the Second Punic War c. 211 BC to the reign of Gordian III (AD 238–244), when it was gradually replaced by the antoninianus. It continued to be minted in very small quantities, likely for ceremonial purposes, until and through the Tetrarchy (293–313).
The word dēnārius is derived from the Latin dēnī "containing ten", as its value was originally of 10 assēs. The word for "money" descends from it in Italian (denaro), Slovene (denar), Portuguese (dinheiro), and Spanish (dinero). Its name also survives in the dinar currency.
As (Roman coin) in the context of Sestertius
The sestertius (pl.: sestertii) or sesterce (pl.: sesterces) was an ancient Roman coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small silver coin issued only on rare occasions. During the Roman Empire it was a large brass coin.
The name sestertius means "two and one half". It refers to the nominal value of two and a half asses, a value useful in commerce because it was one quarter of a denarius, a coin worth ten asses. The etymology is ancient. Latin writers derive sestertius from semis "half" and tertius "third", where "third" points to the third as, since two asses and half of a third equal two and a half.
As (Roman coin) in the context of Semis
The semis (lit. 'half of an as') was a small Roman bronze coin that was valued at half an as. During the Roman Republic, the semis was distinguished by an 'S' (indicating semis) or 6 dots (indicating a theoretical weight of 6 unciae). Some of the coins featured a bust of Saturn on the obverse, and the prow of a ship on the reverse.
Initially a cast coin, like the rest of Roman Republican bronzes, it began to be struck from dies shortly before the Second Punic War (218–201 BC).Following the Augustan Coinage reforms of 23 BC the semis became the smallest orichalcum (brass) denomination, having twice the value of a copper quadrans and half the value of the copper as. Its size and diameter corresponded directly to the quadrans, so its value was attained from brass having double the value of copper. The coin was issued infrequently and it ceased to be issued by the time of Hadrian (117–138 AD).
As (Roman coin) in the context of Uncia (coin)
The uncia (Latin; lit. 'twelfth part') was a Roman currency worth one twelfth of an as.
As (Roman coin) in the context of Decussation
Decussation is used in biological contexts to describe a crossing (due to the shape of the Roman numeral for ten, an uppercase 'X' (decussis), from Latin decem 'ten' and as 'as'). In Latin anatomical terms, the form decussatio is used, e.g. decussatio pyramidum.
Similarly, the anatomical term chiasma is named after the Greek uppercase 'Χ' (chi). Whereas a decussation refers to a crossing within the central nervous system, various kinds of crossings in the peripheral nervous system are called chiasma.