Denarius of L. Calpurnius L.f. L.n. Piso Frugi, Rome c. 90 BCE

Curator: This is a denarius issued in Rome by L. Calpurnius L.f. L.n. Piso Frugi, a moneyer, and currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The coin's silvery surface has a worn but distinguished feel; the composition, divided between the portrait and the equestrian scene, conveys the passage of time. Curator: Indeed, these coins served as a tool for projecting power and identity within the Roman Republic. The imagery, particularly the equestrian figure, spoke to ideals of Roman masculinity and military prowess. Editor: Note how the portrait's profile is rendered in sharp relief, almost as if the artist wanted to emphasize the subject's unique features. Curator: And it is through this kind of strategic representation that the moneyer, Piso Frugi, secured his place in Roman history and collective memory. Editor: Ultimately, the interplay of form and function transforms this little piece of metal into something monumental. Curator: It is a reminder that even small objects can carry immense cultural and political weight.