Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus, a coin minted during the reign of Gallienus. It's small, about 1.59 grams, and part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Wow, just looking at it, you can feel the weight of history. It’s like holding a tiny piece of the Roman Empire in your hand. So eroded, like a whisper from the past. Curator: Exactly. The Antoninianus was introduced as a silver coin, but by Gallienus's time, it was mostly bronze with a thin silver wash. He reigned during a chaotic period, and the debasement of currency reflects that instability. Editor: It's a poignant symbol, isn't it? The dwindling value of the coin mirroring the empire's decline. A literal representation of power fading. Curator: Absolutely. Each coin also carries the weight of the Emperor's portrait—his image becoming more and more tarnished, just like the political climate. Editor: Gives you pause to think about power and what it buys, doesn't it? A little glimmer of what once was. I can almost feel the empire's ghost in it.