Coin (AE2) of Magnentius 351 - 353

Curator: This is an AE2 coin of Magnentius, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Its small size belies the power it once represented. Editor: My first impression is one of wear, of a history deeply etched into the surface. It feels incredibly tactile, like holding a piece of a lost empire. Curator: Coins like this were not just currency, but vital propaganda tools. Magnentius, a usurper, used these to legitimize his rule, embedding his image into the economic and social fabric. Editor: Exactly. Who was this man and what did his image mean for marginalized groups living under the Roman empire? Was this representation equally distributed and understood? Curator: It's fascinating to consider the ripple effects this small object had on shaping perceptions of power and authority. Editor: Indeed, and seeing it now, we’re reminded of how these symbols persist, continuing to inform our present socio-political landscape.