What is "triens"

Triens \Tri"ens\, n. [L., from tres, tria, three.] (Rom. Antiq.) A Roman copper coin, equal to one third of the as. See 3d As, 2.

n. A bronze coin minted during the Rome valued at 4 unciae.

The triens (plural trientes) was an Ancient Roman bronze coin produced during the Roman Republic valued at one-third of an as (4 unciae). The most common design for the triens featured the bust of Minerva and four pellets (indicating four unciae) on the obverse and the prow of a galley on the reverse. It was not a common denomination and was last struck c. 89 BC.