Coin of Corcyra under Caracalla c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: We're looking at a Coin of Corcyra under Caracalla, residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing just over 7 grams. Editor: It's amazing how the simple act of striking metal could project so much power. There's an immediate sense of the empire's reach. Curator: Indeed, the obverse shows Caracalla, his profile stylized, almost godlike. Editor: The coin’s production itself is fascinating. Consider the labor—the mining, the melting, the striking, all directed to broadcast imperial authority. Curator: The coin's circular form creates a self-contained world, reflecting the emperor’s dominion. Editor: It makes me wonder about the artisans who shaped these images. The conditions they worked under, their level of skill. Curator: It truly invites reflections on material culture and its enduring presence. Editor: Absolutely. This humble coin connects us to the vast and complex mechanics of a bygone era.