Dupondius? of Philip I c. 3th century

Curator: This is a Dupondius, attributed to Philip I, the Arab. The artifact weighs 8.83 grams and is currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks ancient and a bit battered, but I sense a resilience, almost defiance, in its worn surface. Like it's whispering stories. Curator: Indeed, Philip I's reign was a period of transition and upheaval in the Roman Empire. Examining this coin through a postcolonial lens allows us to consider the power dynamics at play between Rome and its provinces. Editor: I'm drawn to the way it holds history within its circular frame. It makes me wonder about hands that touched it, the transactions, the lives it impacted. Curator: The coin serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities inherent in power, trade, and cultural exchange. Editor: Absolutely, and it's amazing how one small object can evoke so much.