Antoninianus of Tetricus I c. 270 - 274

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Tetricus I, and it's currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's incredible to hold a piece of history in your hand, so small yet so charged. What visual stories do you think it tells? Curator: The coin, though small, is heavy with symbolism. Consider the image of Tetricus I; it’s not merely a portrait but a declaration of power, deliberately invoking the visual language of emperors. What emotions does this image evoke in you? Editor: I guess a sense of resilience, knowing it has survived so long. Curator: Precisely! And what of the other side? Its imagery offers further clues into the cultural anxieties and aspirations of the time. The coin served not only as currency but also as a medium for imperial propaganda. Editor: So it’s like a tiny, portable billboard? Curator: In a way, yes. And its survival reminds us that even the smallest objects can carry immense cultural memory. Editor: I never thought of a coin holding so much meaning!