Antoninianus of Tacitus c. 3th century

Curator: Up next, we have an Antoninianus of Tacitus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, wow, it's tiny! And worn, like it's got stories etched all over it. It feels almost mystical, you know? Curator: It is amazing, isn't it? These coins, like the one featuring Tacitus, weren't just money. They're artifacts, revealing the image that emperors wanted to project. Editor: So, mini-propaganda, then? I love that. This one looks like it has some kind of figure on the back... perhaps a deity? Symbols of power, strength, something like that? Curator: Precisely. Coins were powerful tools. I look at the portrait of Tacitus, and I think about the weight of his decisions, how each one rippled through time, captured on this small, humble object. Editor: Thinking of those ripples, I wonder who held it? And what did they buy with it? The human element, connecting us through ages… it’s really poignant. Curator: A tangible link, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely. It's more than just an old coin. It’s a whisper of history, a bit of art, and a portal, all in one.