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

Curator: Up next, we have a Roman Quinarius – a silver coin – by L. Calpurnius Piso Frugi. Editor: It’s so small! Almost like a tiny, forgotten wish pressed into metal, worn smooth by the hands of time and commerce. Curator: Precisely. One side depicts the goddess Roma, her helmet a symbol of the city’s military power. Editor: And the other side shows Victory, that eternal, winged figure... It reminds me of how symbols can outlive empires. What did it feel like to hold victory in the palm of your hand, or the promise of it, anyway? Curator: Roman coinage was often a tool of propaganda, linking wealth to the power of the state. It's quite profound. Editor: In the end, all that’s left is this little disc, humming with stories. Isn’t that extraordinary?