Antoninianus of Herennius Etruscus c. 250 - 251

Curator: This is an Antoninianus, a coin depicting Herennius Etruscus. Its creation was tied to the socio-political ambitions of a short-reigning emperor. Editor: The wear is remarkable. You can almost feel the hand of the coiner, the weight and purpose in its metallic form. Curator: The images speak volumes. His portrait, the symbolic figure on the reverse—they reveal the construction of power, the projection of imperial ideology. Editor: And the coin's materiality—its metal content, the way it was struck—all tell a story about Roman economics and resource management. Curator: It’s a glimpse into a society built on hierarchy and military might, where identity was shaped by citizenship and imperial rule. Editor: A tool of empire, definitely, but also a testament to Roman craftsmanship. The physical object itself persists. Curator: Indeed. It's a layered artifact, resonating with meanings far beyond its monetary value. Editor: A little piece of metal, pregnant with the echoes of an empire.