AR Faustina II 

Editor: This is an AR Faustina II coin, and it's fascinating to see how political power was literally stamped onto currency. How do we understand this piece within the broader context of Roman Imperial imagery? Curator: Precisely. These coins functioned as propaganda. Note the empress's portrait – idealized, of course – but also consider the goddess figures often depicted on the reverse. What does this pairing suggest about the role of women, power, and divinity in Roman society, and how were these ideas circulated through everyday objects like coins? Editor: It's amazing to think about the reach of this message. I never considered coins as tools of political messaging before. Curator: Exactly! Understanding the socio-political forces behind even the smallest artwork reveals a lot about the values of that time.