Coin of Aelia Capitolina under Antoninus Pius c. 138 - 161

Curator: Here we have a coin minted in Aelia Capitolina under the reign of Antoninus Pius, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: The coin's patina gives it a spectral quality. The texture is abraded, almost as if time itself has eroded its surface, blurring its features. Curator: Indeed. The coin's imagery is layered with symbolism, invoking Roman power and identity in this newly rebuilt Jerusalem. Note the figures, likely imperial deities, representing Roman authority and cultural influence. Editor: I see. And the materiality certainly emphasizes its age and endurance. Its circular form and worn edges speak to its function as a token passed from hand to hand, bearing the weight of political and economic power. Curator: Precisely. It serves as a powerful reminder of the complex interplay between imperial ambition and cultural assimilation in the ancient world. Editor: A tactile echo of an empire. Something humble in form, but charged with so much significance.