Denarius of C. Vibius C.f. Pansa, Rome 90-87 BCE

Curator: At first glance, it’s a bit ghostly, isn’t it? Pale and worn, like a whisper from a forgotten emperor. Editor: Indeed. This is a silver denarius, a Roman coin, specifically the "Denarius of C. Vibius C.f. Pansa." It's unsigned, but we know it was created by the moneyer C. Vibius C.f. Pansa. Curator: Moneyer! That’s fantastic. So this Pansa fella was like the mint director, stamping his visions, quite literally, into the economy. The imagery is incredible. On one side, a head with wild hair—Jupiter maybe? And the other, a horse with wings? Editor: Absolutely. The obverse displays the head of Liber, wreathed with ivy. The reverse depicts Ceres in a chariot drawn by two snakes, and the moneyer's name below. These symbols represent the prosperity and divine favor the moneyer hoped to convey. Curator: Fascinating! The horse is quite dreamlike. Snakes and horses together: It’s an odd pairing, isn’t it? Power, fertility… all tied to commerce. I like it when ancient things wink at us like this. Editor: It’s a visual shorthand, communicating complex ideas to the masses—a persistent legacy.