Coin of Nikaia under Valerian I c. 253 - 260

Editor: This is a fascinating artifact! It's a coin of Nikaia under Valerian I, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The material looks like bronze, and I'm struck by the wear and tear. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the labor involved: mining, smelting, striking the die. This wasn't just currency; it was a statement of power. What does the material itself – bronze, a readily available but not inherently precious metal – tell us about the regime's priorities and resource management? Editor: So, it’s less about intrinsic value and more about the process behind it and what that represents. Curator: Precisely. The coin’s circulation also reflects economic and social networks of the time. Understanding the coin's materiality unveils the social systems of its creation and usage. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Thanks, that gives me a lot to consider.