As of C. Marcius Censorinus, Rome c. 88 BCE

Editor: Here we have an ancient bronze coin, “As of C. Marcius Censorinus, Rome.” Its surface is worn, yet the two faces on one side are still distinct. What symbols do you see embedded in this piece? Curator: The Janus head immediately leaps out, a powerful Roman symbol representing beginnings, transitions, and duality. Two faces suggest looking to both the past and the future. Editor: That’s interesting, the past and the future. Curator: The repeated image links the coin to cultural memory, constantly reminding people of Roman identity and the cyclical nature of time. Does this give you a different impression of its meaning now? Editor: It does! I see how the coin carries so much more than just monetary value. Curator: Precisely. Images connect us to the past, shaping our understanding of the present. Editor: Thank you, I see that!