Sestertius of Faustina I 141 - 146

Curator: Immediately, I’m struck by the stoicism etched onto this tiny, worn surface. Editor: We're looking at a Sestertius of Faustina I, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Though the artist is technically Faustina I herself, its production reflects the socio-political power of imperial portraiture. Curator: The profile, though faded, still emanates an air of Roman dignity. There's a weight to the image, a sense of enduring power communicated through a standardized, replicable form. Editor: Absolutely. These coins served as propaganda. Distributing Faustina’s image reinforced the Emperor's authority and projected an ideal of Roman womanhood: piety, virtue, and motherhood. Curator: It's fascinating how these seemingly insignificant objects become potent symbols of authority, shaping public perception and memory across vast stretches of time. The symbolic value transcends its material worth. Editor: Indeed. These coins circulated widely, entering the hands of everyday people and embedding the imperial image in the collective consciousness. It’s a powerful lesson in the politics of imagery. Curator: I find myself pondering the journey of this particular coin, the hands it passed through, the stories it might have witnessed. Editor: Considering its journey through time really underscores the power of objects to connect us to the past.