Coin of Side under Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: This is a coin of Side under Gallienus, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, weighing in at just over 17 grams. Editor: My first impression is that this coin feels incredibly ancient, like holding a whisper of history in your hand. You can almost imagine the marketplace where it once jingled. Curator: Precisely! The patina, the surface texture—it speaks of centuries buried, unearthed, and now observed. Editor: And yet, it's the abstraction of the design that I find compelling. The incised figures, almost worn away, become a study in form rather than just representation. Curator: I love that reading. It’s a tangible link to the past, now morphing into pure aesthetic expression. Editor: Absolutely. It’s amazing what stories these tiny objects hold. Curator: Agreed. Something to ponder!