Denarius of Caracalla c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of Caracalla, a Roman coin currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing just over 3 grams. It is a fascinating artifact. Editor: It looks so worn, doesn't it? It's amazing to think of all the hands it must have passed through, all the transactions it facilitated. The Roman Empire in the palm of your hand. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery—the emperor's profile on one side, a deity on the other—served as a powerful form of propaganda. Each coin was a tiny ambassador of Roman power and its supposed divine mandate. Editor: And what do you make of the degradation? Does the wear on the coin's surface diminish its iconic power? Curator: Not at all. The wear and tear only enrich it, adding layers of meaning. It is a testament to the coin's journey through history, each scratch and blemish a symbol of resilience, survival, and the enduring impact of empire. Editor: It's funny to consider how something so small can carry such monumental weight. Thank you for this insight. Curator: My pleasure. These small objects often speak the loudest.