Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Gallienus, a coin housed at the Harvard Art Museums. The artistry embedded in this object intrigues me. Editor: It looks worn, doesn’t it? Like it’s passed through many hands, literally fueling economies and empires. Curator: Exactly, and I find myself contemplating the construction of power and imperial identity this coin embodies. Consider the portrait of Gallienus—it serves as a form of propaganda. Editor: And the material itself, likely a debased silver alloy, speaks volumes about the economic realities of the Roman Empire during his reign, the processes of minting, and the control of resources. Curator: It's fascinating to consider the layers of historical and social significance packed into this small, unassuming object. Editor: Indeed, it gives one a sense of the embodied labor and material conditions behind every piece of currency, past and present.