Coin of Tarsos under Tranquillina c. 241 - 244

Editor: Here we have a coin of Tarsos under Tranquillina, of unknown date. I see a portrait of a woman on one side, and a draped figure on the other. What strikes you about this particular artifact? Curator: This coin offers a fascinating entry point to discuss the role of women in power during the Roman Empire. Tranquillina, as the wife of Emperor Gordian III, held a unique position. The coin, essentially a form of propaganda, visualizes her power, but within very specific patriarchal constraints. How does this coin reinforce or subvert our expectations of female leadership? Editor: I never thought of a coin as propaganda. So, it's not necessarily a portrait of her as a person? Curator: Exactly! It's about the image she projects. Coins were tools to broadcast the Emperor's, and in this case, Empress's, virtues and authority throughout the empire. Consider how gendered expectations might shape the symbols and imagery used. What do you notice about her depiction? Editor: It's powerful to consider how such a small object can reveal so much about gender and power in ancient Rome. Curator: Precisely, examining the coin through a feminist lens enables us to challenge traditional art historical narratives.