Measures & money
Denarius
A common Roman silver coin, often used as a daily-wage reference.
Also called · denarii
What it means
The denarius circulated widely in the Roman world and bore the ruler’s image and inscription.
Its purchasing power changed over time, so “one day’s wage” is a useful biblical comparison rather than a fixed modern conversion.
How it appears in the Bible
Jesus used a denarius in teaching about taxes, and a vineyard parable gives one denarius as the agreed daily pay.
Translation note
Approximate values vary by period, place, and occupation.