Antoninianus of Tetricus I c. 270 - 273

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Tetricus I, held in the Harvard Art Museums. Note the patina, the texture created by centuries of oxidation on its surface. Editor: A ghostly green film dominates the coin, which makes it feel more like a relic than currency. It whispers of forgotten power. Curator: Precisely. The worn details force us to focus on the formal elements—the raised relief, the circular composition, and the implied lines radiating from the emperor's head. Editor: Indeed. The radiant crown, a symbol of solar power and imperial authority, echoes the god Sol Invictus, a popular cult at the time, imbuing Tetricus with divine legitimacy. Curator: The coin's materiality becomes its message; the degradation of the metal speaks to the transience of earthly power. Editor: Ultimately, this coin is a poignant reminder of the stories objects carry, of empires risen and crumbled, rendered beautifully mute in its decay.