learn from a law of the Twelve Tables, and the force and power of these coins depended not on their number but on weight. For as there were bars (_asses_) of a pound weight, there were also two pound bars (_dupondii_), whence even still the term _dupondius_ is used, as if two in weight[441]. And the name is still retained in use.” The half-bars likewise and quarters were no doubt proportionately adjusted to weight. It will be observed that the omission of all mention of the _decussis_ as a standard seems to throw additional doubt on Mr Soutzo’s hypothesis. The plain fact is that a mass of bronze ten pounds in weight would have been extremely cumbrous and unhandy for purposes of manufacture into the implements of everyday life. [Illustration: FIG. 56. Romano-Campanian Coin.] [Illustration: FIG. 57. Victoriatus] When and by whom a stamp was first placed on the bars, it is of course impossible to say. Tradition however seems unanimous in assigning it to the Regal period. Pliny’s account of the Roman coinage is as follows[442]: “King Servius first stamped bronze. Timaeus hands down the tradition that aforetime they employed it in a rough state at Rome. It was stamped with the impressions of animals (_nota pecudum_), whence it was termed _pecunia_. The highest rating in the reign of that king (Servius) was 120,000 asses, and accordingly this was the first class. Silver was struck A.U.C. 485 (B.C. 268) in the Consulship of Q. Ogulnius and C. Fabius, five years before the first Punic war, and it was enacted that the _denarius_ should pass for ten pounds of bronze, the _quinarius_ for five, and the _sestertius_ for two and a half. Now the libral weight was reduced in the First Punic war, as the state could not stand the expenditure, and it was appointed that _asses_ of the weight of a _sextans_ (2 _unciae_) should be struck. Thus there was a gain of five-sixths, and the debt was cleared off. The type of that bronze coin was on the one side a double Janus, on the other a ship’s beak, whilst on the _triens_ and _quadrans_ there was a ship. The _quadrans_ was previously termed a _teruncius_ from _tres unciae_ (three ounces). Afterwards under the pressure of the Hannibalic wars in the dictatorship of Q. Fabius Maximus, _asses_ the weight of an ounce were coined, and it was enacted that the _denarius_ should be exchanged for sixteen _asses_, the _quinarius_ for eight, the _sestertius_ for four; thus the state gained one half. Nevertheless in the soldiers’ pay the _denarius_ was always given for ten _asses_. The types of the silver were _bigae_ and _quadrigae_ (two-horse and four-horse chariots), hence they were termed _bigati_ and _quadrigati_[443]. By and by in accordance with the Papirian law half-ounce _asses_ were struck. Livius Drusus when tribune of the Plebs alloyed the silver with an eighth part of bronze. The _Victoriatus_ was struck in accordance with a law of Clodius, for previously this coin brought from Illyria was treated as merchandize. It