minted in Rome
This silver coin was minted in Rome by Caius Vibius Pansa Caetronius, son of Caius, grandson of Caius, in 48 BC. It is a type called a denarius, the most common Roman silver coin. This picture shows the obverse of the coin.
The obverse depicts a bearded Pan, the half-goat god of fertility and the shepherds. The legend '[PA]NSA' below refers to the moneyer. The portrayal of Pan was probably chosen as a pun on the moneyer's name.
Roman naming conventions were very conservative, with very few names current. In some cases, as here, the reference to a father and grandfather helps to identify an individual. This moneyer was probably an adopted son of a moneyer who minted in 90 BC.
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