Pecunia
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States · John Bouvier · 1839
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States
civil law, property. By this term was understood, 1, money; and 2, every thing which constituted the private property of an individual, or which was a part of his fortune; a slave, a field, a house, and the like, were so considered. It is in this sense the law of the twelve tables said: Uti quisque pater familias legassit super pecunia tutelave rei suae, ita jus esto. In whatever manner a father of a family may have disposed of his property, or of the tutorship of his things, let this disposition be law.
1 Lecons Elem. du Dr. Civ. Rom. 288.
Flocks were the first riches of the ancients, and it is from pecus that the words pecunia, peculium, peculatus, are derived.