Quinarius of Octavian and Marc Antony, Moving Mint c. 39 BCE

Editor: This is a quinarius of Octavian and Marc Antony. It was produced by the Moving Mint and weighs 1.7 grams. It’s so small, yet it holds the faces of powerful leaders. What can you tell me about the political context of this coin? Curator: This coin embodies the intersection of power, propaganda, and everyday life in the Roman world. Issued by Marc Antony, it served to legitimize his authority and alliance with Octavian during a period of intense political maneuvering. Consider how such imagery, circulated widely, shaped public perception and reinforced political narratives. Editor: It's like a miniature billboard! Did the people of the time see it that way? Curator: Absolutely. Coins were a primary means of disseminating political messaging. How do you think its materiality—the fact that it was a small, easily portable object—affected its reach and impact? Editor: That makes so much sense. Seeing how leaders controlled imagery, even in this small way, is really eye-opening. Curator: Indeed. It highlights the public role of art and the carefully constructed politics of imagery in ancient Rome.