Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla 

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla, a Roman coin. It feels so weighty, not just physically, but with history. I’m curious, what meaning do you find embedded in such a small object? Curator: Coins are fascinating because they condense so much symbolic power. Consider the portrait itself, a carefully constructed image intended to project authority, permanence, and idealized virtues. What messages do you think Herennia Etruscilla wanted to convey? Editor: Strength, perhaps? Maybe even divinity? The gaze is very direct. Curator: Exactly. And the figure on the reverse? That's often a deity, furthering that association with divine right. Coins were tools of propaganda, instantly recognizable and circulated widely, constantly reinforcing specific ideologies. Editor: It's incredible how much information can be conveyed through such a small medium. Curator: Indeed. It gives us a real glimpse into the values and power structures of the time. I find something like this helps me better understand the psychological impact of imagery on populations. Editor: It makes you wonder what stories this specific coin could tell.