Denarius of Faustina I 147 - 161

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Faustina I, a Roman coin at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels so fragile, almost ghostly, like a whisper from the past. What stories do you think this little coin holds? Curator: Oh, this isn't just any coin; it's a portal! I see a wife, deified by her husband after her death. Look at that temple depicted on the reverse! What does that tell you about power, love, and propaganda blending together? Editor: So, it's less about money and more about... immortality? Curator: Exactly! Think of it as a tiny monument, a pocket-sized message to the future: "Remember Faustina!" It's kind of moving, isn't it, how such a small thing could carry such weight? Editor: Absolutely. I'll never look at a coin the same way again.