Denarius of Faustina II c. 138 - 161

Curator: This is a denarius of Faustina II, crafted under the reign of Antoninus Pius. Look at how small it is! Editor: It feels weighty, though—like a tiny monument. The wear and tear whisper stories of countless transactions, lives touched. Curator: Absolutely. One side depicts Faustina herself, regal in profile, while the reverse shows a standing figure. I wonder what that figure symbolized to people at the time. Editor: Perhaps an idealized representation of femininity in Roman society? Or maybe the literal weight she carried as a woman in power? Curator: It is funny to think that something so small would hold so much history and perhaps, power. Editor: Exactly. It makes you ponder the value we place on such objects. Curator: These small objects are powerful in their way. Editor: Definitely. Even now, they offer fascinating lessons about the enduring legacies of women.