Faces of Power: Stories Behind Portraits on Greek and Roman Coins

Ancient Greek and Roman coins preserve some of the most widespread portraits from antiquity, showing how rulers wanted to be seen by their people and how artistic styles changed over the centuries. As the main way ordinary people saw the faces of kings, emperors, and rulers, coins remain key evidence for understanding ancient propaganda, political symbols, and portrait styles. The relevance of this topic clear by the debate today about who should appear on modern currency, from Queen Elizabeth II to proposals for a coin showing a portrait of President Trump.

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