Coin of Constantine I, Rome c. 330 - 335

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to this coin of Constantine I, a Roman artifact housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The coin’s weathered surface gives it an unexpectedly poignant quality, as if time itself has softened the sharp edges of imperial power. Curator: Indeed, the material decay is striking. Note the deliberate bas-relief portraiture, its subtle variations in depth conveying a sense of authority. Editor: It's amazing how such a small object carried so much weight, literally and figuratively. Who did it oppress, and how did it shape class and gender imbalances? Curator: While those questions are vital, I am drawn to how the artist uses circular form to create a self-contained universe of meaning. Editor: I appreciate the insights of formalism, but the stories embedded within such objects are what truly resonate with me. We must also see it within its context. Curator: Ultimately, the coin functions on multiple levels; materially, aesthetically, and as a potent carrier of historical narrative. Editor: It's a reminder that even the smallest objects can hold vast histories of both privilege and oppression.