As of Caracalla c. 215

Curator: This is a coin, “As of Caracalla”, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The coin itself, weighing 12.3 grams, features an image of Caracalla himself. Editor: It's weathered, but you can still see the details. It carries an air of antiquity, a tangible link to a distant past. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like this weren't just currency; they were tools of imperial propaganda, disseminating the emperor's image and associated virtues throughout the vast Roman Empire. Editor: Yes, the imagery would have been carefully considered—the profile, the laurel wreath—each detail contributing to a carefully constructed persona for the public. Curator: And the circulation of this coin, its physical presence in the lives of ordinary people, reinforced the emperor's authority and presence across the empire. Editor: It's amazing how a small object like this holds so much cultural memory. Curator: Precisely, it's a powerful reminder of the intersection of art, power, and everyday life. Editor: A tiny portal to the past.