Sestertius of Gordian III 

Curator: Before us, we have a Sestertius of Gordian III, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels like a time capsule, doesn't it? The verdigris gives it a ghostly beauty, like it's been kissed by the sea. Curator: These coins were a vital tool for imperial propaganda. The portrait, though worn, projects an image of youthful authority. Editor: Funny, how an object so small carried so much weight. You can almost feel the hands that held it, the transactions it facilitated. Curator: Absolutely. And the figure on the reverse, possibly a personification of virtue, reinforces the desired narrative. Editor: It's incredible how the artist managed to capture likeness and convey power on such a miniature scale. Still inspiring after all these years. Curator: Indeed. A reminder of how art and power have always been intertwined. Editor: Yeah, and a beautiful little artifact that reminds us of our shared, tangled history.