Dupondius of Maximinus I c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a Dupondius of Maximinus I Thrax, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like it has been through a lot; there is something haunting about it, like holding a small piece of a lost empire. Curator: Indeed. Maximinus Thrax was a rather intriguing figure, rising from a peasant background to become emperor. Coins like these were vital tools for projecting imperial power and legitimacy. Editor: You see the Emperor’s profile on one side and a standing figure of Victory on the other. The textures tell a story of hands touching hands through centuries! Curator: Absolutely, and it speaks to how deeply intertwined political authority was with symbolic representation. Editor: I love how these coins link the mundane realities of trade with the grand narratives of power. It’s like finding a portal in your pocket! Curator: And they remind us that even the mightiest rulers are eventually reduced to fragments of their former selves, accessible in museums and collections. Editor: Just a small token hinting at a world of power, a tiny echo of a life lived in turbulent times.