Antoninianus of Tetricus I, Barbarous Imitation c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Tetricus I, a “barbarous imitation,” from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s quite small, only 1.58 grams. Editor: The material degradation gives it such a melancholic feel. The wear flattens the already simplified forms into near abstraction. Curator: Absolutely. Though worn, it reveals much about cultural memory. The coin attempts to evoke Roman authority through the image of Tetricus I. Editor: Semiotically, the debasement of the form reveals a loss of signified power; the image of authority is weakened. Curator: Precisely. Yet, it persists as a symbol. Despite its "barbarous" quality, the coin reveals the enduring power of Roman iconography on the popular imagination. Editor: The patina and the compressed forms certainly give it an aura of ancient weight. Food for thought. Curator: Indeed. It highlights how symbols evolve, adapting to new contexts and retaining their power, however altered.