This large ancient Roman coin is a true piece of history. Featuring the iconic dual facing head of Janus on the obverse and a prow of a ship on the reverse, this coin dates back to the Roman Republican coinage before the Roman Imperial period. This coin was minted between 169BC-158BC.

In ancient Roman religion and myth, Janus is the god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings. He is usually depicted as having two faces. The month of January is named for Janus. Janus presided over the beginning and ending of conflict, and hence war and peace.

The reverse of the coin depicts a prow of a ship. The prow is the forward-most part of a ship's bow above the waterline. The terms prow and "bow" are often used interchangeably to describe the most forward part of a ship and its surrounding parts.

Although extremely well worn and circulated over 2000 years ago, this coin has survived and details are visible. This coin endured through the ages and is a testament to the craftsmanship of ancient Roman minting. It is rare and is a must-have for any collector of ancient coins and is sure to be a great addition to any collection.

6564