Denarius of Elagabalus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a denarius of Elagabalus from the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's strikingly small, yet the wear suggests a rich history of use and exchange. Curator: Indeed, these coins served not only as currency, but also as propaganda, circulating images of the emperor and promoting his ideals and religious reforms. Elagabalus was a controversial figure, known for his disregard of Roman traditions. Editor: The materiality speaks to empire: the extraction of silver, the labor of striking the coin, the very system of value it represents, and the way the value is literally pressed into the materials. Curator: And the image on the coin, a portrait of Elagabalus, reinforces the power structures of the time, reflecting gender and identity in the Roman Empire. His policies challenged traditional Roman values. Editor: It’s remarkable to consider how this tiny object embodies so much of the Roman economic and social fabric. Curator: Examining this single denarius offers a glimpse into the power dynamics of a complex, multifaceted society.