Coin of Sardis under Faustina I c. 138 - 161

Curator: Here we have a coin from Sardis, made during the reign of Faustina the First, wife of Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing about 21.5 grams. Editor: It's like holding history in your palm, only it's behind glass. The ghostly face on one side, and that architectural etching on the other—it feels somber, weighty. Curator: Indeed. These coins were not merely currency; they served as propaganda, circulating images of the imperial family and promoting Roman ideals throughout the empire. Editor: The image of Faustina is so idealized, detached. Does it tell us anything real about her, or just what the Empire wanted us to see? Curator: That's the fascinating tension, isn't it? The coin's imagery reinforced power structures and societal values. Yet, at a personal level, it commemorates a woman, albeit through a carefully curated lens. Editor: So, it's a tiny, weighty symbol of power and memory, both personal and political. I'll never look at pocket change the same way. Curator: Absolutely, it provides a tangible connection to a distant past, prompting reflection on how empires shape narratives, even on the smallest of canvases.