Sestertius of Gordian III 

Curator: This is a sestertius of Gordian III, a bronze coin currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Immediately, I’m struck by its patina, a beautiful, aged green. You can practically feel the weight of time embedded in the material. Curator: Coins like these were powerful tools for Roman emperors. They served not just as currency but as a form of propaganda, circulating the emperor's image and messages throughout the empire. Editor: Right. It’s a humble object, a piece of base metal really, yet it carried immense symbolic weight. The material cost was likely minimal compared to the socio-political gain for Gordian III. Curator: Exactly. The coin’s condition also speaks volumes about its journey through history. It’s a tangible link to a specific socio-political moment. Editor: Looking at it now, I see more than just an artifact. It's a testament to how material objects were—and still are—imbued with power and meaning. Curator: Indeed, an object that offers a glimpse into both the grand narratives and everyday realities of the past.