Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus, a coin of Roman Emperor Gallienus, from the Harvard Art Museums. I’m struck by how much symbolic weight is packed into such a small object. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Emperor's radiate crown, a sun symbol, announces his divine authority. And the other side portrays a handshake, a visual signifier for concord, or agreement, between powers. It’s not just currency but a piece of potent propaganda. Editor: So, the coin’s imagery reinforced the emperor's power through recognizable symbols. Curator: Precisely. Visual symbols act as cultural memory, shaping perceptions of leadership. What does this tell you about how power was maintained? Editor: It shows me how carefully symbols were chosen to convey very specific, and lasting messages. Curator: Exactly. It's fascinating how something so small can reflect a whole empire’s ideology.