Antoninianus of Carinus c. 3th century

Curator: There's something profoundly human about this corroded coin, this Antoninianus of Carinus residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels weighty, doesn't it? Like a forgotten promise. Editor: Yes, almost pathetically so. The green-gray patina tells a story of being buried, lost, maybe even deliberately hidden. Curator: Carinus himself, the figure represented here, was Roman Emperor for a very brief time. Coins like this one, minted with his image, were vital tools of imperial propaganda. A way to assert power, even far from Rome. Editor: And yet, time and earth have rendered that assertion almost illegible, haven't they? It makes you wonder what other grand pronouncements will one day be reduced to such ghostly echoes. Curator: It's a reminder that power, like art, is only as enduring as its cultural context. It all fades, eventually, leaving behind only fragments. Editor: Perhaps the greatest art lies in accepting that inevitable decay. Curator: Absolutely. This little coin, in its own way, teaches us humility.