Sestertius of Valerian I c. 3th century

Editor: This is a Sestertius of Valerian I from the Harvard Art Museums. It's heavily worn, almost ghostly. I can just make out the emperor's profile. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This coin speaks volumes about power, memory, and decay. Consider the portrait: It’s not just Valerian's face, it's an idealized image meant to project authority and permanence. Yet, the wear suggests the slow erosion of that power and memory. What survives, and how? Editor: So, it’s about what endures versus what fades? Curator: Exactly. Coins like this circulated widely, physically embodying the Roman Empire. The symbols and images imprinted on them served as constant reminders of imperial power, culture, and values, linking people across vast distances. Does this change how you see it? Editor: Definitely. It's less about the individual and more about the broader impact of these symbols. Curator: Precisely. This coin is a window into how empires construct and maintain their image, and how time slowly deconstructs it.