Antoninianus of Maximian, Carthage c. 303

Curator: Here we have an "Antoninianus of Maximian, Carthage" made by Maximianus I Herculius. It resides at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing a mere 3.34 grams. Editor: It feels like looking at a memory. All those faded details, the way the edges have softened. It evokes a sense of resilience. Curator: Yes, and it shows how power was projected. This coin, small as it is, would have been handled by many, a constant reminder of Roman authority in Carthage. Editor: Imagine holding it, feeling the weight of an empire in your palm. The portrait of Maximian, though worn, still conveys his ambition, I think. Curator: Absolutely. Coinage was vital for imperial propaganda. Its distribution reinforced the emperor's image and legitimacy across the vast territories. Editor: You know, it makes you wonder about the individual stories each coin carries. All the transactions, the hands it has passed through, the places it's been... Curator: Exactly, each coin tells a history, a small but tangible link to a long-vanished world, and its political ambitions. Editor: A little portal into another life. Incredible to consider!