Coin of Antioch under Elagabalus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a "Coin of Antioch under Elagabalus," currently held by the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It immediately strikes me as corroded, almost like a fossil. The surface is rough. Curator: Precisely. Coins were not merely currency; they were potent symbols of imperial power and religious identity. Editor: Look at how the composition uses the circle. It's not just a shape; it's containment. Do you think it echoes the ruler's ambition? Curator: Absolutely. And the imagery – the laureate head of Elagabalus himself on one side, and the sacred symbols of Antioch on the other – it’s a visual program of legitimation. Editor: It's a small object, but it holds so much material and semiotic weight. Curator: Indeed, a glimpse into a complex historical moment, preserved in humble metal. Editor: And a reminder that even the smallest artifact can speak volumes about power and belief.