Sestertius of Faustina I 141 - 146

Editor: Here we have a sestertius featuring Faustina I. It’s amazing to consider that this small bronze coin was a form of mass communication. What can we learn about power and representation from it? Curator: Absolutely. This coin isn't just currency; it's a carefully constructed image of imperial power and idealized femininity. The depiction of Faustina, likely posthumous, was a political strategy to elevate her successor, and perhaps a commentary on the role of women in that society. Editor: So, it’s not necessarily an accurate portrayal, but more of a constructed narrative? Curator: Precisely! We must analyze whose interests this narrative served and how it reinforces certain social hierarchies. Representation matters, then and now. Editor: That makes me think about the ways images are used today to create narratives around powerful figures. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on how these coins functioned in their time can give us critical tools for analyzing modern image-making.