Coin of Tarsus under Gordian III c. 238 - 244

Editor: So here we have a coin of Tarsus under Gordian III, at the Harvard Art Museums. It's weathered, and somehow that enhances the sense of history it carries. What statements were these coins making in their time? Curator: Coins like these were powerful propaganda tools. The image of Gordian III, especially, would have been instantly recognizable throughout the Roman Empire. These weren't just currency; they were carefully crafted messages reinforcing imperial power and legitimacy. How do you see its public role in its time? Editor: It’s like a mini billboard, maybe? I guess I hadn’t considered the power of something so small to communicate so much. Curator: Precisely. And consider the implications – who controlled the imagery, who could access it, and what narratives were being promoted? Understanding these dynamics gives us insight into the sociopolitical landscape of the Roman Empire. I am fascinated by the politics of imagery! Editor: That's definitely a perspective I hadn't considered before; I see that the museum had the role to select and preserve this type of object.