A short novel set in Rome in the 1920s, during the early years of Mussolini's rule. A single coin passes from hand to hand among a group of characters, linking their lives over a single day. Among them are idealists, opponents of the regime, and people simply trying to get by. As their paths cross, the book builds a picture of a city under political pressure and of individuals caught between private hopes and public danger. It is an early example of Yourcenar's interest in history and conscience.