Coin (AE2) of Magnentius 350 - 353

Editor: Here we have a coin, "AE2 of Magnentius," from the Harvard Art Museums. It's heavily worn but you can just make out the image and lettering. What statements were these coins trying to make in society? Curator: Coins like this were powerful tools of propaganda in the Roman world. They circulated widely, carrying the emperor's image and messages into every corner of the empire. Who was Magnentius trying to reach? Editor: Well, he was a usurper, so he needed to legitimize his rule. Curator: Precisely. So, the imagery and inscriptions would have been carefully chosen to project authority, strength, and perhaps even divine favor. The museum context today invites critical examination about power then and power now. Editor: That’s a lot to think about, thanks!