Antoninianus of Diocletian, Cyzicus c. 3th - 4th century

Curator: Let's look at this Antoninianus of Diocletian from Cyzicus, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's remarkably small, yet the patina lends it such weight, such gravity. The effigy has a stoic expression with the radiate crown, and the reverse seems to show two standing figures. Curator: It served as propaganda, projecting an image of power through Diocletian's constructed persona. Coins like this were integral to his efforts at unifying the Roman Empire amidst crisis. Diocletian's rule marks a pivotal point in Roman history. Editor: And the composition—the incised lettering, the careful mirroring on either side—it's all designed for instant recognition. It's a visual language of power, communicated across a vast empire. Curator: Exactly. It's interesting to consider its place within the context of late Roman imperial ideology. Editor: A fascinating exercise indeed, understanding the coin as both object and symbol.