:Coins and medals in the ancient world functioned in part as
miniature works of art with great reach and power. Today, they
provide much historical information that can be read and
interpreted. An exhibition, "Heads and Tales: Portraits and
Propaganda on Classical Coins," is on view at the Mount Holyoke
College Art Museum through July 9.
The exhibition celebrates the recent acquisition of more than 900
ancient coins from two important numismatic collectors. Mark
Salton's gift of coins that depict Faustina and other female
images in the ancient world was inspired by an earlier
exhibition, "The Moon and the Stars: Afterlife of a Roman
Empress."
Nathan Whitman, a renowned professor of art history at the
University of Michigan and Roman baroque specialist, described
himself as having "imperial fantasies" and passionately
accumulated his collection over many years.
On Thursday, March 2, William E. Metcalf, curator of coins and
medals, Yale University Art Gallery; adjunct professor of
classics, Yale University, will present a lecture at 4:30 pm in
Gamble Auditorium. A reception will follow.
Since the coins arrived at the museum, staff and students have
been working on further cataloging. Students had the rare
opportunity to conduct primary research on original coins, which
will be shared in the exhibition and they spent considerable time
thinking about putting coins and other objects together in
meaningful ways.
The Mount Holyoke College Art Museum is on Lower Lake Road. For
information, mtholyoke.edu/go/artmuseum or 413-538-2245.
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