As
The unit of value in the Roman and Old Italian coinages, and made of copper or bronze. (See
Aes.) It was originally a pound of copper (
aes grave), of the value of 16 2/3 cents, and was uncoined (
aes rude). Servius Tullius stamped upon it the figures of animals (hence the term
pecunia, from
pecus). In the First Punic War, money
being scarce, the
as was reduced to one sixth of its original weight,
and to a value of 2.8 cents. In the Second Punic War it was again reduced, so as to weigh but
one ounce, having a value of 1.4 cents. The Lex Papiria (B.C. 191) still further reduced the
as to half an ounce in weight, and a value of 7.9 1/3 mills, which
continued the standard weight and value even under the Empire. For a fuller account, see the
article
Numismatics (Roman).