Denarius of M. Cipius M.f., Rome c. 115

Editor: So, this is a Roman coin, a denarius by M. Cipius M.f., from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s surprisingly small and dense. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Think about the material, silver, and its function as currency. This wasn't just an aesthetic object; it fueled the Roman economy, connecting labor, resource extraction, and trade. The imagery, a goddess and a chariot, speaks to power and ideology, mass-produced and distributed. What does it mean to have this imagery on a piece of everyday exchange? Editor: That's fascinating. It really does make you think about the value beyond just its monetary worth. Curator: Exactly, it highlights how art and power intertwine within everyday life.