As of Gordian III 

Curator: This coin, entitled "As of Gordian III", resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's a somber quality to its patina, a sort of weathered resilience. Curator: This object speaks volumes about imperial power. It served as a tool for disseminating the emperor’s image and authority throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: The portrait itself, though worn, retains an air of youthful confidence, an idealized image meant to project strength and stability. The imperial symbols tell their own story. Curator: Indeed, circulating these coins was a political strategy. They were propaganda writ small, reinforcing the emperor's legitimacy and the reach of Roman power. Editor: It’s fascinating how such a small object can carry so much weight, both literally and figuratively. It shows us how symbols persist and carry their meaning across generations. Curator: It's a tangible reminder that even mundane objects can be potent carriers of political and cultural meaning. Editor: Yes, making this humble coin an enduring symbol of a vast and influential empire.