As of Faustina II 161 - 176

Curator: Here we have a fascinating piece from Harvard Art Museums: a coin, "As of Faustina II." Editor: It looks like something that's been through a lot. The texture is really speaking to me—worn, almost like whispers of the past clinging to its surface. Curator: Indeed. This coin's materiality offers critical insight. The obverse features a portrait of Faustina II. Note the classical elements of the portraiture: her hairstyle, the delicate rendering of her features. Editor: And on the reverse, a seated figure... perhaps a deity? It's so evocative, hinting at power and authority. Curator: Quite right. The coin acts as a signifier, embedding messages about imperial power and the role of women within the Roman Empire. Editor: It's amazing how such a small object can hold so much history and emotion. It kind of makes you wonder who held it and what they were thinking! Curator: Precisely. The interplay between form and content underscores the historical significance of this piece. Editor: It's a little window to another world. Makes you think, doesn't it?