Antoninianus of Gordian III 238 - 239

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Gordian III, part of the numismatic collection at the Harvard Art Museums. The coin is made of metal and weighs about 4.87 grams. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how much wear it shows. The images feel ghostly and worn, as if whispering stories from another age. Curator: The Antoninianus was a coin introduced in the Roman Empire in the early 3rd century AD. Its imagery and circulation were heavily influenced by political and economic factors, serving as propaganda as much as currency. Editor: Absolutely. The emperor’s portrait becomes a repeated symbol, a recognizable face promising stability, while the imagery on the reverse reinforces that message. It’s fascinating how those symbols persist. Curator: Precisely, its very existence tells us a lot about the economic and political climate of the period. Editor: Indeed, it’s a poignant reminder of the transient nature of power. Even emperors fade, but their symbols endure.