AR Claudius II 

Editor: Here we have the AR Claudius II coin, by Claudius II Gothicus, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It's humble in size, but incredibly detailed. It looks worn by time. What stories do you think this coin could tell? Curator: Oh, absolutely, imagine the hands it passed through! It's like a tiny time capsule. Look closely at the portrait—the emperor’s gaze, the details of his laurel wreath. It’s a statement of power, isn't it? And the patina, that green, is the whisper of centuries. Editor: It really does invite you to ponder! Thanks for opening my eyes to it. Curator: My pleasure! A single coin, yet a universe of history.