Denarius of M. Aemilius Scaurus and P. Plautius Hypsaeus, Rome 58 BCE

Curator: This is a Denarius, a Roman coin issued by M. Aemilius Scaurus and P. Plautius Hypsaeus. Editor: It's so small, yet it feels weighty with history. The patina gives it a humble quality. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this were not just currency; they were tools of political communication, circulating specific imagery to convey power and influence. Editor: So, the material—the silver, the die, the very act of minting—is as much a message as the images struck upon it. What sort of labor practices were involved in production? Curator: Precisely. These coins offer invaluable insights into Roman social structures, artistic conventions, and the way leaders sought to shape public opinion. Editor: Thinking about the journey this little piece has taken through history—it really makes you consider value and meaning in a new light.