Coin of Antioch under Caracalla c. 196 - 217

Curator: This piece, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums, is a coin of Antioch under Caracalla. The coin weighs 8.06 grams. Editor: It has a weathered look to it. I imagine the feeling of holding history in your hand. There is also an immediate sense of something important lost to time. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this were vital tools of political communication. The emperor's image and inscriptions broadcast power, reaching a wide audience. Editor: So, this little coin was basically ancient propaganda? It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, the stories it could tell. Curator: Absolutely. It played a role in the daily life of people. The coin served as both a symbol and a tool. Editor: I find it intriguing how something so small can carry so much weight—economic, political, and cultural. Curator: In examining this, it provides a tangible connection to the vast Roman empire, a portal to understanding its intricate workings. Editor: A powerful little artifact that lets us consider the big picture, even from a distance.