Sestertius of Faustina I 146 - 161

Curator: This is a Sestertius of Faustina I, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing in at just over 28 grams. Editor: There's something melancholy about it, isn't there? The worn surface, the somber expression on her face… a tangible sense of history. Curator: Absolutely. The materiality speaks volumes. As a form of currency, these coins weren't just symbols of power, but circulated through every level of society. Think of the hands this object has passed through. Editor: And consider the imagery they chose. Faustina, elevated almost to goddess status. The reverse shows a draped figure, a symbol of abundance or perhaps piety? Curator: It’s fascinating how the Roman state used these objects—means of exchange—to disseminate a very specific kind of messaging. Editor: So, it’s not just a coin, but a carefully crafted piece of propaganda. It makes you wonder about the layers of meaning embedded in such everyday objects. Curator: Precisely. Seeing the wear and tear on the coin, experiencing that weight... it truly bridges the gap between then and now. Editor: Indeed. A small object, but it echoes with the weight of an empire and one woman's carefully crafted image.