Without television or newspapers, how could you find out about current affairs, politics, and politicians?

In the ancient world, people used coins as one way to broadcast information. One side of Roman coins showed the emperor’s face; the other side depicted an animal chosen to symbolize his power.

One very popular image was the she-wolf suckling Romulus and Remus, the legendary twins who survived to found Rome, thanks to the wolf’s help. Greek cities also adopted certain animals to represent them.

The most famous example is the “owl” of Athens, the favorite animal of the goddess Athena. Athenians used the owl everywhere, on drinking cups as well as coins.

We still use this practice today, in many ways and in many countries. The eagle engraved on the U.S. silver dollar, for example, is a symbol of our national freedom. More locally, Tigers and Lions have been embraced as a symbol of Detroit.

Can you think what Ann Arbor’s animal mascot might be?