Coin of Philip I c. 3th century

Curator: Up next, we have a copper coin of Philip I, also known as Philip the Arab, weighing in at 12.34 grams and residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it looks like something dredged from the bottom of the sea! Makes you think about lost empires and forgotten riches, doesn't it? Curator: Precisely, each coin represents a link in economic and political networks, facilitating exchange and solidifying power. The wear and patina also speak to a material history. Editor: Absolutely, and the craftsmanship—even obscured by age—hints at the artisan's skill, their labor etched in the very metal, whispering stories of their time. Curator: Exactly, the artistry, production, and circulation of this coin illuminate broader historical forces. Editor: It makes you wonder what hands it passed through, what transactions it facilitated, and what stories it could tell if it could talk. Curator: A potent reminder that even the smallest artifact embodies vast historical processes.