Antoninianus of Salonina c. 3th century

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus, a coin by Salonina. It's small, worn with age, but I'm curious about the statement it makes, a woman's portrait on currency. What are your thoughts? Curator: The presence of Salonina on this coin disrupts traditional patriarchal narratives. How does the act of a woman’s image circulating as currency challenge or reinforce power structures? Editor: That's a perspective I hadn't considered. Does it empower or tokenize? Curator: Exactly. It prompts us to question the degree of agency afforded to Salonina, whose visage now represents political and economic power. Is it symbolic, or truly subversive? Editor: That gives me a lot to consider about how we understand women in leadership roles, even today. Curator: Indeed. It's a powerful intersection of identity, representation, and historical context.