Antoninianus of Volusian c. 253

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Volusian from the Harvard Art Museums. The coin has a solemn profile on one side and a standing figure on the other, both worn with age. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the power dynamics inherent in currency. Who is deemed worthy to be memorialized in this way? Volusian's image, multiplied across countless coins, served as constant propaganda. How did this impact perceptions of his rule and legitimacy? Editor: I never considered that. So, it's not just art, but also a tool for reinforcing authority? Curator: Exactly! And consider how this coin, now an artifact, speaks to the impermanence of power despite such efforts at immortalization. What do you think it tells us about the Roman Empire's values? Editor: It’s interesting to think about how even something as small as a coin can carry so much weight and meaning. Curator: Precisely. The coin is a testament to how art intersects with power, identity, and social structures.