Denarius of L. Scribonius Libo, Rome c. 62 BCE

Editor: Here we have a Roman silver coin, a Denarius of L. Scribonius Libo. It feels so weighty and solid, even in a picture. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Its material existence speaks volumes. Consider the mining, smelting, and striking processes – the labor extracted to produce this object. It wasn't just currency; it was a vehicle for disseminating power, literally pressed into the hands of the populace. Who benefited from its production, and what did it cost them? Editor: So, thinking about the coin as more than just money… Curator: Exactly. It embodies Roman economic and political systems. What message was intended through its production and circulation? What did it facilitate? Editor: It makes you consider the whole system behind something we might otherwise see as just a small artifact. Thanks!