Coin of Lysinia under Caracalla 188 - 217

Curator: Here we have a coin from Lysinia under Caracalla, a small bronze artifact now held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Its patinated surface whispers stories of ages past, a muted palette of greens and browns evoking a sense of time's gentle erosion. Curator: Caracalla, the emperor himself, likely oversaw its creation. It was a way to project power and image across his empire. Editor: I'm fascinated by the coin's subtle relief. The incised figure, worn with age, prompts us to decipher its intended message. Curator: Think of the hands this coin has passed through, the transactions it witnessed. What do you think it represents? Editor: Perhaps a moment of fleeting commerce, yet now a relic prompting reflection on empires and their echoes. Curator: It’s a fragment of history, isn't it? A tangible link to another world, another time. Editor: Yes, a small but mighty testament to human ambition and endurance.