Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Gallienus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs approximately 3.1 grams. Editor: The patinated surface lends it an air of ancient solemnity. You can make out just enough of the details to feel the weight of history pressing down. Curator: The Antoninianus was a coin used during the Roman Empire. Its imagery was carefully controlled to project the emperor's power and legitimacy. The material itself, a copper alloy, speaks to the economic realities of the time. Editor: And the eroded portrait, barely visible? It adds to the sense of time's relentless march, doesn’t it? The coin feels almost like a memento mori. Curator: Indeed, its degradation is part of its story. We see not just an object of imperial propaganda, but also its fate within a larger historical context. Editor: A poignant reminder that even empires crumble, rendered in miniature.