Dupondius of Antoninus Pius c. 156 - 157

Editor: So, this is a Dupondius of Antoninus Pius. It’s small, made of what looks like tarnished bronze, and features a portrait on one side and a figure on the other. What strikes me is how a tiny object like this can represent such immense power. What do you see in it? Curator: Well, power is definitely the keyword here. These coins weren't just currency, they were also propaganda. Think about who gets to decide whose face is on the money – it's always a statement about who matters, whose image is worth circulating. This coin speaks to the power of visual representation in constructing and reinforcing authority. Editor: So, it's less about the coin itself, and more about what it represents in society? Curator: Exactly. Consider the ways in which marginalized groups have historically been excluded from such representation. This coin invites us to think critically about who is seen, who is heard, and whose stories are told through visual culture, then and now. Editor: That’s a very interesting perspective. I hadn't considered it in such a context. Curator: It's a good reminder that art, even something as seemingly mundane as a coin, is always embedded in social and political structures.