follis

[ fol-is ]

noun

, plural fol·les [fol, -eez].

1. a bag of copper or bronze coins with a fixed weight, used as money of account in the later Roman Empire.
2. a silver-plated copper coin of ancient Rome, first issued by Diocletian.
3. a copper coin of the Eastern Roman Empire, a.d. c500.

Word History and Origins

Origin of follis¹

1880–85; < Late Latin; compare Latin follis bag, purse