Antoninianus of Probus 280

Curator: There's a certain poetry in holding something so small that represents such vast power, don't you think? Editor: Absolutely. This is an Antoninianus of Probus, a Roman coin now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Its worn surface whispers of the economic and social currents of its time. Curator: Worn, yes, but imagine the hands it's passed through! I’m struck by the almost haunting profile of Probus; it's a tiny, metal ghost of an emperor. Editor: More than a ghost, it's a carefully constructed image of imperial authority meant to circulate and solidify power. The imagery used would have reinforced Probus's legitimacy in the eyes of the population. Curator: And the fact that we still have it – after all the upheaval, the wars, the shifting empires – is rather beautiful. Editor: Indeed. A tangible link to a past often idealized or misunderstood. It's a reminder of the human desire for legacy, power, and the stories we tell ourselves about them.