As of Faustina II, Rome 161 - 176

Editor: Here we have a Roman coin, "As of Faustina II", currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's such a tiny artifact, but it contains so much history! What strikes you most about it? Curator: Well, you know, holding something like this, I always think about who last touched it hundreds of years ago. I wonder what their hopes and fears were. The coin itself, it’s not just currency, it’s propaganda, a tiny billboard broadcasting the emperor's power, and of course, the empress's beauty. Editor: Propaganda, huh? It is a bit like a royal selfie! Thanks, I didn't think about that. Curator: Exactly! It's a carefully crafted image designed to project power and stability. Who knew a little coin could tell such big stories?