Sestertius of Antoninus Pius c. 148 - 149

Curator: Here we have a Sestertius, a Roman coin, of Antoninus Pius. This example is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks heavily worn, but I can still make out the details. It's incredible to think of the hands it must have passed through. Curator: Indeed. A coin like this offers a fascinating glimpse into the political and economic machinery of the Roman Empire. It represents a deliberate dissemination of the emperor's image and authority. Editor: More than just an image, though, the material itself – its weight and metallic composition – spoke to the value it represented, the labor exchanged for it. A common material circulating power. Curator: Certainly, and it's a reminder of how even everyday objects can reflect the grand sweep of history and imperial power. Editor: Absolutely. Holding this coin, you're holding a piece of not just art, but of the very material fabric of a society.