AE Faustina I 

Curator: This is a coin featuring Faustina I. Editor: The patinated bronze is striking, though the image is worn with age. Curator: The coin offers a glimpse into the role of women in ancient Rome, particularly their elevation to divine status after death. Faustina was the wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, and this coin likely emerged after her passing. Editor: Notice how the composition emphasizes the figure’s static pose, her draping garment cascading with purpose. Curator: Coins served as powerful propaganda tools, communicating imperial ideology and projecting an image of stability and legitimacy to a vast and diverse population. Editor: It is an enduring image, in all its modest scale, a testament to the enduring power of visual language. Curator: Precisely. It reveals the intersection of power, gender, and representation in the Roman world.