Expressions of Identity in Ancient Greek Coins

A silver Greek coin depicting an owl next to an olive branch.
Beth Dusinberre speaking while standing in front of a lit wall display case with Greek and Roman coins inside. She has glasses and red hair and is smiling.
A silver coin featuring the text, "EID MAR" beneath a brimless hat with a dagger next to it on each side.

Coins convey powerful messages through their symbolic imagery. These tiny objects reveal how the ancient Greeks conceived of themselves and their relationships to their communities, histories, and beliefs, both religious and political. They bear information about geographies, power and propaganda, artistic techniques and more. The coins in this installation illustrate these many dimensions of ancient Greek culture, giving researchers and visitors a tangible connection to the past. 

This exhibit was created in association with a class on Ancient Greek Numismatics taught in Fall 2025 by Elspeth Dusinberre. Participants were Ellen Alles, Julia Bowers, James Chanfrau, Caleb Curtis, Joseph Dias, Chancellor Fortenberry, Celia Frankenheimer, Jordan Garcia, Lindsay Howard, Ryan Johnson, Isabella Praslin, Grace Saunders, Camerynn Teuta, Emma Trotter, and Hejing Zhang, as well as Classics Department friends Mary McClanahan and John Nebel, and CUAM Director Hope Saska. Special thanks go to research assistant Phoebe Mock for creating the online component of the exhibit. Without the generosity and expert participation of John Nebel, neither class nor exhibit would have been possible.

Currently on view.