Denarius of P. Licinius M.f. P.n. Crassus, Rome c. 55 BCE

Editor: This is a denarius of P. Licinius M.f. P.n. Crassus from Rome. It's small, silver, and shows a woman on one side and a man with a horse on the other. What can you tell me about its historical importance? Curator: Coins like this one weren't just currency, they were propaganda. Consider who controlled the imagery – in this case, the moneyer, P. Licinius Crassus. What messages about power, lineage, or virtue might he have been trying to convey through these images intended for wide circulation? Editor: So, each coin was a political statement? Curator: Potentially. How does its imagery tie to existing cultural narratives or reinforce a specific social order? Think about the role of public art in shaping perceptions and reinforcing power structures in ancient Rome. Editor: I never thought about coins that way. It's like a tiny billboard of power. Curator: Precisely. Examining this denarius helps us understand the intersection of art, politics, and everyday life in ancient Rome.