Denarius of L. Plautius Plancus, Rome 47 BCE

Curator: This is a Roman denarius, a silver coin, created by L. Plautius Plancus. Editor: It's small, unassuming, but there is a palpable sense of power radiating from it. Curator: Roman coins like this one, weighing just over 4 grams, were not merely currency; they functioned as propaganda tools. The imagery was deliberately chosen. Editor: Absolutely, and the imagery here, the face and then the figure with wings... it speaks to authority and the divine, both intertwined, as they often were. Who is represented here and what does this tell us? Curator: The face is often associated with Diana. Coins like this were circulated widely, embedding these symbols of power and Roman identity throughout the Republic. Editor: It's a potent reminder of how even the smallest, most everyday objects can carry immense cultural and political weight. Food for thought!