Denarius of Antoninus Pius c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a Denarius, a Roman silver coin featuring Antoninus Pius. Editor: The wear is interesting, isn't it? You can see how this was passed around and used, almost smoothed by countless hands. Curator: Absolutely. On one side we see a bust of Antoninus, his head wreathed in laurel. The other side depicts Pax, the Roman goddess of peace. Editor: The materiality is integral; silver was a valuable commodity. These coins were a means of exchange but also a tool for projecting power and communicating ideology. Curator: Indeed. The imagery, like Pax, conveys a specific message of stability and prosperity under Antoninus Pius. This imagery served as propaganda. Editor: Seeing this coin makes me think of all the different hands it may have passed through. Curator: A tangible link to the past, loaded with symbolism, and power dynamics. Editor: Quite the artifact when you consider the material circumstances of its creation.