Sestertius of Gordian III c. 3th century

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius, a coin depicting Gordian III, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a small, unassuming object, but the portrait is still visible. What can you tell me about the role of imagery on ancient currency like this? Curator: Coins such as this served as propaganda. The emperor's image, circulated widely, reinforced his authority. Consider how even its weight, 26.68g, served as a statement of economic power and the empire's reach. Who was being targeted by this imagery? Editor: Perhaps the military, administrators, or anyone involved in trade and commerce. It's interesting to think of this coin as a mini-billboard, reaching all corners of the Roman world. Curator: Precisely. And that's how art functions in the socio-political landscape – as a tool of influence, readily available to all. Editor: That definitely reframes my understanding of its importance. Curator: Mine too. Thank you.