Sestertius of Gordianus III 

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius, a coin featuring Gordian III, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Seeing the weathered bronze, it's easy to imagine the hands it must have passed through. What stories do you think this coin could tell? Curator: Ah, a whisper from the Roman Empire! This coin, beyond its monetary value, is a tangible link to a young emperor, Gordian III. Consider the weight of imperial power resting in the palm of your hand. Think of the imagery, carefully chosen to project authority and stability. Does it make you wonder about the fleeting nature of power, reduced to this small, enduring disc? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't considered the emperor's image as propaganda. Curator: Indeed! Coins were the mass media of their time. A constant reminder of who was in charge and what they stood for. Ponder its journey, buried, unearthed, and now here. What secrets does it still hold? Editor: It's incredible how much history is packed into one small object. Thanks for sharing your perspective! Curator: My pleasure! Art like this invites us to play detective, piecing together narratives from fragments of the past. Keeps life interesting, don’t you think?