Denarius of Faustina II 161 - 176

Curator: This is a silver denarius of Faustina II, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's something melancholy about it. The worn silver, the delicate profile, evokes a real sense of vanished empire. Curator: Indeed. As a symbol, the image of Faustina was circulated to convey power and imperial stability. Her image served as an emblem. Editor: And considering the material, the labor involved in minting thousands of these coins, all standardized for trade and taxation… Curator: These coins were not only currency, but also powerful icons meant to perpetuate her memory and legitimize her lineage. Editor: It's intriguing to consider the immense value, both symbolic and monetary, concentrated into such a small object, then distributed so widely. Curator: It truly condenses a complex story of power, memory, and the enduring strength of symbolic representation. Editor: Seeing such a mundane object, almost, triggers thoughts about vast social and material networks that have passed.