Oh, the naivety here is astounding. Everyone knows that coinage was the mass media of the ancient world. Emperors used their likeness on coins to convey messages about their achievements and heritage. They often depicted themselves with exaggerated features to seem more formidable or God-like. It's really a study in itself to understand each element of those portraits. So if you find them 'weird,' it's primarily because you're not looking at them through the lens of their cultural and historical context.

i mean they didn't have cameras so probably the artist just did their best impression 😅

The representation of facial features in Roman numismatics is quite fascinating. Each emperor wanted to distinguish themselves from their predecessors while also adhering to the Roman ideals of power and authority, which is why the portraits can vary widely. Emperors would go as far as deifying themselves through their depiction on the coins. The hairstyles, for example, can be symbolic, showing off styles that were in vogue at the time or used to suggest a comparison to deities or heroes of Roman mythology. Artistic conventions changed over time which can also account for variations in appearance.

Maybe your grandad played dress up in togas too much and mistook a Chuck E. Cheese token for ancient treasure 🤣

lol, i saw one of those at the museum once, looked like the guy got electrocuted with that hair 😂. they had some wild styles back then huh? anyone knows why they're so different from what we're used to?

Coin portraits from the Roman Empire were idealized representations of the emperors. The features you describe as 'weird' were often exaggerated to convey certain virtues or divine aspects. The 'crazy hair' might be an artistic flourish signifying the emperor's divine favor or strength. These coins were also a means of communication and asserting authority throughout the Roman territories. The iconography and inscriptions can tell us a lot about the political climate of the time.

Roman coins can look pretty weird to the modern eye! AFAIK, emperors had their faces put on coins to spread their image across the empire. They sometimes used it as propaganda, making themselves look more heroic or divine. Maybe the 'crazy hair' on your coin was a style meant to impress!