in the scripture-language, is used by St Luke to signify a certain coin which was of very little value. Our translation of the passage is, Are not two sparrows sold for two farthings? In St Matthew, who relates the same thing, we read Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? The Greek reads affarion instead of as. Now affarion, as some say, was worth half an as, that is to say, four French deniers and ½ th; and, according to others, two deniers and ½ ths. Dipondius seems rather to signify half an as. Calmet, Diction. Bibl. Luke xii. 6. Matt. x. 29.

Dr Arbuthnot differs in opinion from the author last quoted. He says, that this coin was at first libra, or of a pound weight; and even when diminished, it retained the name of libella. So that dipondius denotes two asses.