AR Gallienus 

Curator: This is an AR Gallienus, likely dating back to his reign. The Harvard Art Museums hold this artifact, offering a glimpse into the material culture of the Roman Empire. Editor: It's amazing how much wear and tear this coin has endured. You can feel the history just by looking at the image. Curator: Absolutely. It's not just a coin; it's a symbol of power, trade, and identity. Consider its role in reinforcing Gallienus's image during a tumultuous period. How did this object circulate and what did it signify to those who handled it? Editor: And the materiality itself—the silver content, the minting process—speaks to the resources and labor involved in creating and distributing currency. Curator: Precisely. The coin’s design, featuring Gallienus, would have been a deliberate act of self-representation, projecting an image of authority. Editor: Examining this AR Gallienus, therefore, bridges the gap between the ruler's ambition and the daily lives of those who used it. Curator: Indeed, prompting us to think about the coin's many journeys and the stories it could tell about class, power, and the visual encoding of identity.