Sestertius of Trebonianus Gallus c. 3th century

Curator: This is a sestertius of Trebonianus Gallus, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The piece weighs in at about 13.86 grams. Editor: It feels ancient, you know? Like holding a little piece of history that’s been through a lot. A tangible, if worn, relic. Curator: Coins like this offer valuable insights into the political and economic landscape of the Roman Empire during Gallus’s brief reign, reflecting imperial power and propaganda. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through. What stories did those hands hold? Curator: Examining its iconography and inscription provides critical insight into how Gallus wished to be perceived and the values he sought to promote during a period of crisis and plague. Editor: I guess seeing history etched onto something so small… It’s a reminder that big empires are built, and crumble, coin by coin, person by person. Curator: Precisely. This coin is a potent symbol of that complexity. Editor: Exactly! History whispers when you listen closely.