Coin of Sardis under Gordian III c. 238 - 244

Editor: Here we have a coin of Sardis under Gordian III, located at the Harvard Art Museums. It appears quite worn, almost ghost-like. What imagery stands out to you in this particular piece? Curator: Coins often hold powerful symbols, even beyond their monetary value. What do you make of the specific emblems chosen here? The portrait of Gordian III, of course, asserts imperial authority. Editor: It’s interesting to think about the power dynamics at play. Did the people of Sardis have any say in this imagery? Curator: Probably not directly, but the selection of certain local deities or symbols for the reverse side could have been a strategic decision to foster a sense of connection and legitimacy. Coins were, after all, a form of propaganda. Editor: So, it’s a dialogue, even if a forced one, between the emperor and the local population. Curator: Precisely. And studying these visual cues is essential to deciphering the historical and cultural context of the artwork and its period.