ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Roman Republican currency

Okay, let's talk about something called Roman Republican currency. Have you ever heard of coins? Like the ones you might find in a piggy bank or see people throwing into fountains for good luck? Well, the Romans had their own version of coins a long, long time ago.

Back when Rome was a republic (that means they didn't have a king or emperor yet), they used coins as a way to buy things they needed. These coins were made out of a metal called bronze, which is similar to the color of a penny you might see today.

The coins had different values, just like paper money does today. The smaller ones were worth less and the bigger ones were worth more. The most common coin was called the "as" and it was worth one-twelfth of a Roman pound (which, by the way, was a lot heavier than a pound today).

But here's the interesting part - on these coins, there were pictures of people, gods, and animals that were important to the Romans. For example, one coin had a picture of a woman's head on it. This was supposed to be the goddess Roma, who was like a superhero to the Romans, protecting their city and people. Another coin had a picture of two guys on it - this was supposed to be the famous brothers who founded Rome, Romulus and Remus.

So, why did the Romans do all this? Well, it was a way to show off how great their country was. The coins showed off their leaders, their beliefs, and their culture. It was also a way to make sure people knew what they were using for money, even if they couldn't read.

That's pretty much it, buddy. The next time you see a coin, maybe you can think about the cool stories and history that's behind it!