Coin of Tarsus under Trajan Decius c. 249 - 251

Curator: Here we have a coin from Tarsus, minted during the reign of Trajan Decius. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Worn, isn't it? Like a memory half-erased, you can still make out the ghost of an image. Curator: Indeed. The coin's material and imagery were carefully chosen. Notice how the figure on one side might represent Tyche, the city's guardian goddess. This was a common image, but it spoke directly to Tarsus's identity and hopes. Editor: A little god in your pocket! Gods were used for marketing even then. Curator: Precisely. And the emperor's portrait on the other side? A strong statement about power and Roman authority. Editor: Amazing how a single coin becomes a time capsule. Curator: It shows us the past is always present, influencing our symbols and stories. Editor: And that even the smallest objects can hold worlds of meaning.