Denarius of Decimius Flavus, Rome c. 150

Curator: This is a Denarius of Decimius Flavus, a Roman coin minted by Decimius Flavus himself, and it's now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s remarkably small. The surfaces look worn, giving it an almost tactile history. I can imagine the hands it has passed through. Curator: These coins served as propaganda as much as currency. The imagery—often of deities or rulers—reinforced social order and political power. Editor: The materials matter, don't they? Silver wasn't just a store of value; it signified Roman wealth and control over resources. How was it mined, refined, and distributed? Curator: Exactly! Consider the labor involved and the socio-economic forces that sustained its production. These details provide a glimpse into the vast Roman economic system. Editor: This tiny coin really holds worlds within it. I'll never look at pocket change the same way again. Curator: Indeed, it transforms our understanding of the everyday objects and the power structures they represent.