Quadrans of Antoninus Pius c. 145 - 161

Curator: This is a Quadrans, a Roman coin, specifically one minted under Antoninus Pius. Now housed at the Harvard Art Museums, this small bronze piece weighs just over 3 grams. Editor: It looks… well, worn! But there's something about the patina, that aged bronze look, that makes it feel incredibly weighty, doesn’t it? Like it’s carrying centuries of stories. Curator: Absolutely. The images on coins were carefully chosen. Antoninus Pius, like other emperors, used them to broadcast his virtues and achievements throughout the empire. We see the bust of the emperor himself on one side. Editor: And the hole? Did everyone walk around with Roman coins on a string? I imagine they did! Curator: It’s certainly possible. Coins were sometimes used as amulets, and a hole would make it easy to wear as such. Editor: It’s amazing to think this little coin, once clutched in someone's hand, can still whisper secrets across time, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. It serves as a potent reminder of the power of symbols, even in miniature.