Sestertius of Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Up next, we have a Sestertius, likely crafted during the reign of Commodus. The piece is currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks…tired. All that green oxidation makes it feel ancient, of course, but also heavy with a kind of weary authority. Curator: The sestertius itself, typically bronze, was a workhorse currency. Seeing Commodus's portrait stamped on it reminds us how even the most mundane objects were tools of imperial propaganda. Editor: Absolutely. It’s fascinating how this little disc, designed for everyday transactions, became a vehicle for projecting power. The mass production, the metallic content, it all speaks to empire. Curator: Right? It’s easy to forget these objects were both art and advertisement, history etched into metal. Editor: Indeed. It really makes you consider the weight of history carried in something so small.