Talentum, talenti, n. g. Horat. A value of money among the Greekes whereof were two sortes. Talentum Atticum maius, contaíníng 80. Minas, eueric Mina valuing. 100. Drachmas, or Denarios, and euery Drachma being a grote sterling when eight went to an ounce, and by that rate doeth rise to 133. poundes and odde money. Talentum Atticum minus, which is most spoken of in authours containing 60. Minas, euerie Mina, as before is written, being in value an 100. Denarìos, and in that rate amounteth to an hdieth pounds, or as Tonstal writeth. 120. poundes. But hee may seems to value it after tenne groates to an ounce. For the finenesse or basenesse of English money maketh Talentum more or lesse. But any man may easilie cast the value, comparing the rate of money presently currant to eight Denarios, which was the Romaine ounce. As if you alow v. s. to an ounce. Mina valueth three pound. ii. s. vi. d. and then Talentum minus tyseth to aboue. 180. poundes. There be many other talentes of sundrie countries, the value whereof is vncertaine according as the value of Mina doth alter. As Talentum Hebraicum sanctuarij containing an 100. Minas Hebraicas, wherof enerie one was o. Sicli, and euerie Siclus fqure Denarij of sterling groates of eight to an ounce, whiche rate amounteth to 400. poundes. Talentum Hebraicum minus was halfe so much.Argenti auríque talenta. Vir. Duo magna talenra auri.Virg.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
tălentum, i (gen. plur. talentum, Cic. Rab. Post. 8, 21; Liv. 30, 16, 12 et saep.; rarely talentorum, Suet. Caes. 54), n. [ta/lanton, a thing weighed, a weight; hence], a talent, i. e., I.A Grecian weight, varying in different states, usually about half a hundred-weight (very rare): auri eborisque talenta, Verg. A. 11, 333: thynni, Plin. 9, 15, 17, 44: turis, id. 12, 17, 40, 80.—II.A sum of money, likewise varying in amount.a.The Attic talent, which is most usually meant, contained sixty minæ, i. e. 243 15s. sterling (1182.19 in American gold): cum legati ab Alexandro quinquaginta ei talenta attulissent, quae erat pecunia temporibus illis, Athenis praesertim, maxima, Cic. Tusc. 5, 32, 91: decem milia talantum, id. Rab. Post. 8, 21; Plaut. Most. 3, 1, 114; 4, 2, 10; id. Truc. 5, 60; Varr. ap. Plin. 35, 11, 40, 136: argenti, Verg. A. 5, 112; Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 34; id. S. 2, 3, 226; 2, 7, 89 al.; cf. Rhem. Fan. Pond. 37 sq.; Fest. p. 359.—Sometimes called also magnum, C. Gracch. ap. Gell. 11, 10, 6; Plaut. Truc. 4, 3, 71; id. Most. 3, 1, 110; id. Cist. 2, 3, 19.—b.Another talent of eighty minæ, Liv. 38, 38.—c.The Egyptian talent, Varr. ap. Plin. 33, 3, 15, 52.