Denarius of Cn. Domitius Cn.f. Cn.n. Ahenobarbus, Rome c. 116

Curator: We're looking at a Denarius of Cn. Domitius Cn.f. Cn.n. Ahenobarbus. This Roman coin is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It feels weighty, doesn't it? So much history pressed into this small, worn circle. The figures almost seem to be emerging from the metal itself. Curator: Indeed. On one side, we see the head of Roma, while the reverse depicts soldiers erecting a trophy. The imagery invokes themes of military victory and civic pride. Editor: The linear quality is interesting; each soldier is an almost identical vertical stroke. Are they individual figures or a unit? Curator: The repetition certainly emphasizes the collective over the individual. It's a powerful visual statement on the strength of the Roman military machine. Editor: I suppose the magic of this piece is how such a simple object can spark so much imagination about a vanished world. Curator: Precisely. Examining its composition and design, we gain valuable insight into the values and aspirations of Roman society.