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Ancient coins can convey civic and political meanings. Athena, the patron deity of the Greek city of Athens, is depicted on the tetradrachm with her owl attribute on the reverse of the coin. Together, Athena and her owl symbolize an Athenian democratic civic identity. In contrast, the imagery on the Roman as is strongly connected to one person’s political power. While earlier Roman coins also featured shared symbols like the personification of Rome, by the end of the Republican period the officials issuing coins like the denarius began to feature imagery that aggrandized their lineage and achievements. In the "To Learn More" section of the website, you can watch a video that shows how ancient Greeks and Romans minted their coinage.
Included in the exhibition alongside ancient coins are glass sulphide paperweights that have conceptual similarities to the Greek and Roman currency. The eagle encased in one of the paperweights can be seen as an emblem of the ideals of freedom and strength professed by the United States. In contrast, the paperweight featuring the portrait of John F. Kennedy, produced shortly after his assassination, serves as a memorial to him and his shortened presidency.
Coin (denarius, obverse), Kelsey Museum of Archaeology 1995.02.142, University of Michigan
On the obverse side, the portrait of King Tatius faces left, while on the reverse there is a depiction of the killing of Tarpeia, above the legend, “L•TITVRI,” the name of the coin’s issuer, L. Titurius Sabinus. Tatius was the Sabine king who attacked Rome after abduction of Sabine women – a story featured on another coin issued by L. Titurius Sabinus. Tarpeia was a Vestal Virgin who betrayed Rome by letting the Sabine troops into citadel, believing that she would be rewarded with gold jewelry. Instead, she was punished for her greed by being crushed with the Sabines’ shields, for she had asked the soldiers for what was on their left arms, which were both their bracelets and shields. Although Titurius' third name or cognomen might indicate a Sabine ancestry, that connection is not always valid.
Coin (denarius); Roman, Republican period (89 BCE); Silver; 1.8 cm height; 1.6 cm width. Gift of Adon Gordus.
Coin (denarius, reverse) Kelsey Museum of Archaeology 1995.02.142, University of Michigan
Sulphide paperweight with portrait of John F. Kennedy, by Albert David (Baccarat Company 1963), University of Michigan-Dearborn 1998.003 . Photography by Sarah Nesbitt.
This Baccarat paperweight design had been produced since the beginning of John F. Kennedy's presidency, but his assassination in 1963 led to a dramatic increase in its demand and a rise in resale value. This paperweight is signed by the artist, Albert David, with the date of 1963. The purchaser of this paperweight may have come to value it as a memorial of the president, rather than as a celebratory commemorative item of his first term in office.
Sulphide paperweight with portrait of John F. Kennedy, by Albert David (Baccarat Company); French (1963); Crystal with sulfide cameo. Gift of Ross Lucke.
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