Denarius of Marc Antony, Moving Mint 32 BCE-31 BCE

Editor: Here we have a silver denarius issued by Marc Antony. Its age and condition give it such a tactile quality. What strikes you most about this coin? Curator: This coin represents more than just currency; it's a direct record of Antony's power and the Roman war machine. Consider the labor involved in mining the silver, minting the coin, and then using it to pay soldiers. These coins fueled conquest. Editor: So it's less about the artistic merit and more about the means of production? Curator: Precisely. The imagery itself - the war galley - speaks to that industrial and military complex. This wasn't simply art for art's sake; it was a tool of empire.