Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius 250 - 251

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Herennia Etruscilla, wife of Trajan Decius, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, wow, this coin feels heavy with history, doesn't it? It's like holding a tiny, worn-out memory. Curator: Precisely! Etruscilla's portrait on the obverse offers a glimpse into the imperial world of the third century. And look at the reverse, the depiction of Pudicitia, the Roman personification of modesty. Editor: Right, she appears veiled, a powerful symbol of virtue. It's intriguing how they used visual cues to promote specific values. Does the coin's wear suggest anything about its use? Curator: Absolutely, its state tells a story of circulation. Each scratch represents a transaction, a journey through hands and markets. It's a tangible connection to everyday life in the Roman Empire. Editor: It really brings a personal feeling to otherwise detached history, like finding a forgotten trinket. Curator: Indeed. This Antoninianus is more than just currency; it's a miniature monument, a vessel carrying echoes of an era long past. Editor: It makes you wonder about the lives it touched. A small thing, but it opens a vast, reflective space in my mind.