Denarius of L. Lucretius Trio, Rome c. 76 BCE

Curator: Let's examine this Denarius issued by L. Lucretius Trio in Rome. It's a small silver coin, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Intricate detail for something so tiny! It feels weighty somehow, like a little moon rock. Curator: The imagery is fascinating. The obverse shows a bust wearing a radiate crown, likely a divine figure or personification. Editor: And on the reverse, a crescent moon under the moneyer’s name. What did that signify back then? Curator: The moon may have symbolized the goddess Luna, and the imagery served to connect Lucretius's family to powerful Roman myths and deities. Editor: Art as propaganda, even on pocket change. It makes you wonder about the stories these coins could tell, if they could talk. Curator: Exactly. Coins were a primary means of disseminating political and cultural messages. Editor: Well, it’s always surprising to see how a little thing can say so much about power and culture. Curator: Indeed. And, sometimes, the most potent narratives come in the smallest packages.