Sestertius of Gordian III 241 - 244

Editor: So, this is a Sestertius, a coin, of Gordian III, its bronze surface aged and worn. There's something incredibly weighty about holding a piece of currency touched by hands nearly two millennia ago. What stories do you see embedded in this piece? Curator: This coin transcends mere currency. It embodies the political ideology of empire, revealing how rulers like Gordian III used portraiture and symbolism to construct and disseminate power. How does it make you think about the relationship between art and authority? Editor: It's fascinating to think of the coin as propaganda, trying to control public image. Does the material itself – bronze, a relatively common metal – affect how that message was received? Curator: Absolutely. Bronze, while not as precious as gold, still conveyed a sense of Roman strength and durability. Consider also the gendered aspects of power displayed – the young emperor’s idealized, masculinized image intended to project stability and legitimacy. What does that contrast with the present? Editor: I never thought about how gender plays into the visuals of power. Thanks, I have so much to reflect on! Curator: Of course! Every artifact, even a small coin, speaks volumes about its cultural and historical context.