dupondii

The dupondius was a silver coin used in ancient Rome. Its name derives from the Latin "duo" meaning two, and "pondus" meaning weight, indicating it was originally valued at two asses. The dupondius was introduced during the Roman Republic, likely in the late 3rd century BC, and continued to be minted throughout the Imperial period. Visually, dupondii are often identifiable by a radiate or "sunburst" crown worn by the emperor on the obverse, distinguishing them from the sestertius, which typically featured a laureate head. This distinction in imagery was a key visual cue to the coin's higher value. The denomination of the dupondius fluctuated in value over time, but it generally represented a significant unit of currency for everyday transactions. It was struck in bronze and orichalcum, a brass-like alloy, rather than silver, as its name might suggest. The dupondius served as a bridge between the smaller denominations like the as and the larger coins such as the sestertius.