Coin of Anazarbus under Maximinus I c. 235 - 236

Curator: This is a coin from Anazarbus under Maximinus I Thrax, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. It weighs just over 13 grams. Editor: It looks incredibly worn, yet still imposing. The patinated surface evokes a real sense of history and endurance. Curator: Indeed. Maximinus Thrax was an interesting figure, rising from a peasant background to become emperor. The coin itself serves as a potent symbol of power and authority. Editor: And of the socio-political structures that elevated certain individuals while marginalizing others. This "self-made man" narrative often obscures the exploited labor that underpins imperial power. Curator: Perhaps. The imagery on the coin would have been immediately recognizable, reinforcing Maximinus's image throughout the region. Editor: It's a reminder that even small, everyday objects can function as tools of propaganda, embedding power structures into the collective consciousness. Curator: Looking at this, I am reminded of how symbols transcend time, retaining echoes of past meanings. Editor: And for me, it highlights how power reproduces itself, often relying on the same strategies of representation and control across centuries.