Coin of Decentius 351 - 353

Editor: Here we have a coin of Decentius, unsigned and undated, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks so small and worn. What can we really learn from something like this? Curator: Quite a bit, actually! Coins like this one functioned as propaganda. How would Decentius, a usurper, want to be seen? Consider the imagery: What symbols of power are present, and what messages are being conveyed to the public? Editor: I see a figure on one side; is that Decentius himself? So, it’s like an official portrait circulated widely. Curator: Exactly! And the coin's ubiquity made it a powerful tool for shaping public perception and legitimizing his rule. Think about how visual media functions today. Editor: That’s fascinating. I never thought about coins as political statements. It really makes you consider the power of everyday objects. Curator: Indeed. And it highlights how art, even in its most utilitarian forms, is always embedded in a complex web of social and political forces.