History·4 May 2026·4 min read
The coin with Cleopatra's face — propaganda in metal
Before newspapers and television, rulers sent their face into the world on coins. Cleopatra did it masterfully.
Queen Cleopatra of Egypt put her face on coins — sometimes alongside Mark Antony. She was among the few women depicted on money in antiquity, a tool of power and image.
The first mass "media"
The coin was the only object that reached the hands of thousands, carrying the ruler's face and message. It was portable propaganda. Money has never been just money — it has always been a message too.
