Denarius of M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus, Rome 69 BCE-57 BCE

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of M. Plaetorius M.f. Cestianus, struck in Rome. It’s a small silver coin, but full of stories. Editor: My first impression is how worn it looks. You can practically feel the centuries in its texture. Curator: Absolutely, and you can just imagine whose hands it passed through. The mint workers, the traders... even the people depicted on its faces. It’s essentially a form of mass production. Editor: And what faces they are! The delicacy of the die work is still visible. The goddess Diana, with her regal bearing. Curator: The artist clearly imbued it with symbolic value beyond mere currency. It's a reminder that even the smallest, most commonplace objects can hold a nation's identity. Editor: Well, it's definitely given me something to ponder. A tiny thing packed with history. Curator: Me too. It really does make you think about what future generations will make of our pocket change.