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A solidus (the Latin word for solid) was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans. It was introduced by Constantine I in the AD 309–10, and was used through the Byzantine Empire until the 10th century AD. The coin replaced the aureus as the main gold coin of the Roman Empire.
The name solidus had previously been used by Diocletian (284-305) for the gold coin that he introduced, which is different from the solidus introduced by Constantine. The coin was struck at a theoretical value of 1/72 of a Roman pound (about 4.5 grams). Solidi were wider and thinner than the aureus, with the exception of some dumpy issues from the Byzantine Empire. The weight and fineness of the solidus remained relatively constant throughout its long production, with few exceptions. Fractions of the solidus known as semisses (half-solidi) and tremissis (one-third solidi) were also produced.
Variations on the word solidus gave rise to a number of currency units:
The current currency of Peru, is the sol.
In France the sou (until 1715 sol) was the name of a coin. It was first minted in gold, from the 1200s in sliver and during the 1700s in copper. The sou tournois was a 12- denier coin, one-twentieth of the livre tournois (Tournois pound), while the sou parisis was a 15-denier coin. After decimalizationDecimalization refers to any process of converting from traditional units, usually of money, to a decimal system. This process has been undergone by all countries except Mauritania and Saudi Arabia, but the former has in practice dropped their smaller uni in France, the sou became the name for a five- centimeCentime is French for " cent", and is used in English as the name of the fraction currency in several Francophone countries (including Switzerland and formerly France), where it is one hundredth of a franc. In France a five-centime coin was known as a sou coin, one-twentieth of the French francThe franc is the name of several currency units. The name is said to derive from the Latin inscription francorum rex ("King of the Franks") on early French coins, or from the French franc meaning "free". Countries which use francs include Switzerland and.
To this day, sou is used as slang for money, as in j'ai pas de sous. "I'm broke", "I haven't got two bob to rub together". Sou of copper, coined 1767Events The Burmese invasion reaches the Thai capital of Ayutthaya, razing it. North Carolina woodsman Daniel Boone goes through the Cumberland Gap and reaches Kentucky in defiance of a decree from King George III. He discovers a rich hunting ground, conte for Louis XV of FranceLouis XV ( February 15, 1710 May 10, 1774) was king of France from 1715- 74. He was born at the Palace of Versailles. Until the royal legal age of maturity at fourteen, his uncle, Philippe d'Orleans, acted as Regent. Cardinal Fleury, until his death ( 174