Sestertius of Faustina II 176 - 180

Curator: Let's delve into this artifact from Harvard Art Museums: a sestertius featuring Faustina II. Consider it a lens through which to examine gender and power dynamics within the Roman Empire. Editor: Wow, it’s got that ancient bronze vibe, almost like holding a piece of forgotten history. Makes you wonder what it has seen, you know? Curator: Absolutely. Faustina II, as empress, held considerable influence, yet her power was invariably tied to her relationship with the emperor, Marcus Aurelius. The coin, therefore, becomes a study of visibility and agency. Editor: So, like, she’s on the money, but not really calling the shots? Curator: Precisely. The image, the very material—it all speaks to the construction of identity within a patriarchal structure. The patina tells a story of time, inequality, and survival. Editor: It is cool how something so small can hold so much. I’m now thinking about all the hands it passed through, and what it meant to each of them.