Sestertius of Gordian III 238 - 239

Curator: This object is a Sestertius, likely struck during the reign of Gordian III. Editor: It has a certain gravitas, doesn't it? The patinated bronze and worn edges speak of age and circulation. Curator: Indeed. The obverse presents a profile portrait of Gordian III, surrounded by an inscription identifying him. The reverse depicts a standing figure, likely a personification of a virtue, holding a scepter. Editor: Note how the incuse relief of the emperor's profile contrasts with the raised legend and how the patination obscures the details of the figure on the reverse. Curator: The Sestertius served as a vital tool for imperial propaganda, disseminating the image and authority of the emperor throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: And it is a tangible connection to the past, a fragment of daily life, imbued with symbolic weight. Curator: Yes, a coin like this, a common currency, played a role in the economic and political life of the Roman Empire. Editor: It is a humble yet powerful artifact. I am left contemplating the weight of history pressed into such a small object.