The first use of coins as currency dates back to the seventh century B.C. in the ancient kingdom of Lydia. Many leaders projected their power and likeness onto the metal discs, which daily reminded citizens of their authority. These portraits weren’t randomly selected, either. They were carefully curated snapshots of strength that reflected cultural aesthetics and the personal style of each leader. A new exhibition at the Kunsthistorisches in Vienna presents more than 2,400 years of history through 100 coins from many eras. With each coin, the exhibition examines how hairstyles, hats, and other stylistic accoutrements expressed class distinctions and signs of leadership across states. —Maggie Turner