Antoninianus of Gallienus 

Curator: This is an Antoninianus, a coin from the reign of the Roman Emperor Gallienus. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums, a tiny window into the political and social landscape of the 3rd century. Editor: It feels ancient, doesn't it? Like holding a forgotten story. I see a figure, weathered and worn, but still…regal. Curator: Exactly. The imagery on these coins was carefully selected. They were tools for propaganda, meant to project power and legitimacy during a turbulent era of crisis and near collapse. Editor: It’s amazing to think something so small could carry such weight. It makes you wonder about all the hands it passed through, all the stories it could tell. Curator: Indeed, it speaks volumes about the intersection of imperial authority, economic stability, and the everyday lives of people under Roman rule. Editor: It's a poignant reminder of the impermanence of power and the enduring human story etched in the smallest of objects. A tiny artifact, a universe of history contained within.