Antoninianus of Probus 277 - 282

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Probus, a Roman coin currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a ghostly relic. The verdigris gives it a haunting, timeless quality. Curator: The coin itself, weighing just 3.33 grams, speaks to the industrial processes of the late Roman Empire. Consider the labor involved in its creation: the mining, smelting, and the meticulous striking of each individual piece. Editor: The image of Probus himself is powerful, even obscured by age. These symbols were carefully chosen to project authority and stability. Curator: Indeed, and what about its value? It's a unit of currency, reflecting trade routes and the broader economic system. Each one was a tool of governance. Editor: For me, it carries the weight of empires, and the echoes of countless transactions. It’s a tangible link to a civilization long gone. Curator: It's fascinating how a small object can reveal such complex social and historical processes. Editor: Absolutely, it bridges the gap between individual power and the everyday life of people, then and now.