Sextans

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     Sextans, a Roman coin, which is marked
sometimes on the obverse, sometimes on the
reverse, or on both sides with two globules or
[● ●], denoting it to be the sixth part of the
as, or two ounces (uncia) because the as was
divided into twelve. It has for its types the
head of Mercury and the prow of a ship. -- Some
of these pieces bear the names of Roman
moneyers. The sextans was also a measure for
liquids, which contained two cyathi, or twelfth
part of a sextarius.
     Sextarius, a Roman measure for liquids,
which, like the as, was divided in twelve
ounces, that was also called cyathi. This
measure held two cotylae, or heminae, being
about an English pint and a half. -- "Hence
(says Eckhel) the phrase duo cyathi sextans,
tres cyathi, quadrans, etc., by which is easily
explained that passage of Martial : Ep. xi. 37.

Quincunces et sex cyathos bessemque bibamus,
        Caius ut fiat Julius, et Proculus.

Namely, nineteen cyathi for the number of
letters, which are in Caius, Julius, Proculus."
-- The sextarius was also the sixth part of a congius, a liquid measure of ten libra in weight (about one gallon). It was the moderate quantity of wine which persons of sober habits drank at
their meals, as Vopiscus remarks of the Emperor
Tacitus : -- Ipse fuit vitae parcissimae, ita ut
sextarium vini totá die nunquam potaverit.
On the other hand the congius was the scale
and criterion of "deep drinking : " some topers
being celebrated under the names of bicongii,
whilst those more daring were called tricongii ;
three or rather six bottle men!

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