Coinage

Coin of Etruscilla from Caesarea Maritima

A bronze coin (249-251 CE) depicting a bust of Etruscilla on the obverse and the god Bacchus on the reverse.

A bronze coin (164–169 CE) depicting a draped bust of Lucilla on the obverse and a male figure standing on the reverse.

Bronze coin from Caesarea Maritima (249–251 CE) depicting a draped bust of Herennia Etruscilla on the obverse and a bust of Tyche.

Coin of Faustina

Bronze coin of Caesarea Maritima with a bust of the empress Faustina on the obverse, and the emperor holding a cornucopia and sacrificing on the reverse.

On the coinage from Caesarea Maritima we see a consistent theme of women in power being represented on coinage. The women we see represented are empresses over time from 161 – 251 CE. These coins often depict the empress on the obverse with a god or emperor on the reverse.

The coins show us a clear example that women are defined by their relationships with men. Women being represented on the coins are being shown simply because they are wives of men in power. Their status comes from marriage rather than any actual power they might hold.