Coin of Sidon under Julia Paula c. 3th century

Curator: Well, look at this artifact: a coin minted in Sidon under Julia Paula, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? Melancholy. It's like holding a tiny, worn-out memory in your hand. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these were powerful tools, not just for trade, but for imperial propaganda, circulating images and messages throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: And the image? A ruler, a god... someone asserting power. But time softens everything, doesn't it? Now, it is just a ghost of its former self. Curator: Precisely. The wear and tear tell a story of circulation, of being held and exchanged, a silent witness to history. Editor: Almost makes you want to trace its journey, imagine all the hands it passed through. It's a tangible connection to a world so different, yet so close. Curator: It reminds us that art and power are always intertwined. Editor: Yeah, and even the most potent symbols eventually become pocket change.