Coin of Valentinian 364 - 375

Curator: This is a coin of Valentinian, a Roman Emperor, now residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The weathered surface is telling; I can feel the weight of history in this small artifact. Curator: Indeed. The coin's production and distribution would have facilitated trade and, of course, solidified Valentinian's power. Editor: Power, yes, and its relationship to identity. The image on the coin likely served to reinforce imperial authority and project specific values. Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the coin – its metallic composition, the processes of minting – speaks to a complex economic and social system. Editor: And looking at it now, we must ask how this object, designed to communicate imperial strength, also reveals the precarity of power and the inevitable decay of empires. Curator: A vital question. It reminds us that even the most enduring symbols are subject to material realities. Editor: Absolutely. It is amazing how such a small object can provoke such contemplation about power and history.