Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla c. 3th century

Curator: This is an Antoninianus coin of Herennia Etruscilla from the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just under 4 grams. Editor: It’s strikingly small, isn’t it? And quite worn, giving it a sense of profound age and use. Almost ghostly. Curator: Indeed. The portrait of Etruscilla on one side and a standing figure on the other evoke Roman ideals of power and virtue. These images were carefully crafted to transmit messages. Editor: And the messages women like Etruscilla could convey were, of course, limited. How does this depiction both empower her and confine her within patriarchal structures? Curator: The imagery is complex and multifaceted. Editor: Seeing this piece really grounds me in the vastness of time and the persistent echoes of past power dynamics. Curator: For me, it’s a fascinating glimpse into how a ruler sought to project herself through symbolic representation.