Coin of Gallienus, BD 

Editor: This is a coin of Gallienus, from the Harvard Art Museums. It has an aged, almost distressed look. What’s significant about something so small and seemingly insignificant? Curator: Coins, especially those of rulers like Gallienus, were powerful tools of propaganda. They offer insight into the values and self-representation of the Roman Empire during a tumultuous period. What does it mean to see a ruler immortalized in this way? Editor: So, it’s less about monetary value and more about the image it projects? Curator: Precisely. Consider how this coin circulated. Who held it? How did its imagery reinforce power structures and social hierarchies? The wear and tear we see speak to its journey, and the complex relationships between power, representation, and everyday life. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about. It's amazing how much history can be held in one small coin. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to question whose stories are valued and how those stories are told.