Dupondius of Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: This is a Dupondius, a Roman coin, bearing the likeness of Emperor Commodus. Editor: It's strikingly patinated, a heavy green veil obscures much of the original detail, giving it a ghostly quality. Curator: The coin itself becomes a symbol, doesn't it? A physical manifestation of imperial power, circulated and held, connecting the emperor to the everyday lives of his subjects. Editor: And yet the image is worn, almost illegible. The relief is flattened; the form has degraded. The sharp lines originally defining the emperor's features are blurred. Curator: It speaks to the ephemeral nature of power, the decay of empire. Even a symbol meant to project strength crumbles over time. This piece weighs 9.89 grams and resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The coin's circular form, typically associated with wholeness and continuity, is disrupted by the surface degradation and damage; the message is obscured. Curator: Perhaps the obscuring is the message. Editor: Yes, a fitting, and somewhat disheartening, conclusion.