Sestertius of Maximinus I 235 - 238

Curator: This is a sestertius, a Roman coin, depicting Maximinus I Thrax. Editor: It's a heavy little thing, isn’t it? I can almost feel the weight of power it must have represented. Curator: Power, yes, but also the complex dynamics of the Roman Empire. Maximinus was known as a soldier emperor who rose from humble origins. Editor: And the coin would have circulated in the markets and among everyday people. How much does this object reflect the social mobility of the time, even if violently achieved? Curator: It's amazing to think that this piece of metal, now housed at Harvard, once passed through so many hands. It makes you wonder about the stories it could tell. Editor: Exactly! The coin is a tangible connection to a past we're still grappling with. An empire built on both glory and brutal oppression. Curator: So true. I find it fascinating to consider how art like this, intended as propaganda, becomes a mirror reflecting our own values and concerns centuries later.