Dupondius

The dupondius (Latin two-pounder) was a bronze coin used during the Roman Empire and Roman Republic valued at 2 asses (1/2 of a sestertius or 1/8 of a denarius).

It was introduced during the Roman Republic as a large cast coin, although even at introduction it weighed less than 2 pounds. The coin featured the bust of Roma on the obverse and a six-spoked wheel on the reverse. This denomination was not minted ofter during the Republician Era. With the coinage reform of Augustus in 23 BC, the sestertius and dupondius were produced in a golden colored alloy of bronze called orichalcum by numismatists, while lower denominations were produced out of reddish copper. The dupondius was further distinguished from the similarly sized as with the addition of a radiate crown to the bust of the emperor in 66 AD during the realm of Nero. Using a radiate crown to indicate double value was also used on the antoninianus (double denarius) and double sestertius. The dupondius was manufactured until the late 3rd century AD.

Since dupondii minted prior to and during the realm of Nero lack the radiate crown, it is often hard to distinguish between the as and the dupondius due to heavy patination which obscures the coin's original color.

Sestertius of Hadrian, dupondius of Antoninus Pius, and as of Marcus Aurelius

See also: Roman currency.

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