Latin for money, derived from pecus, i.e. livestock; thus referred originally to animal bartering, later-on applied to all types of money. We speak of someone´s pecuniary situation when we mean a person´s assets. It was Emperor Vespasian (9-79 AD) who coined the expression 'pecunia non olet' (money doesn´t stink). This was reportedly the e... Found on https://www.encyclo.co.uk/local/20978