Antoninianus of Probus, Siscia c. 276 - 282

Editor: Here we have the Antoninianus of Probus, a coin from Siscia currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The worn surface makes it difficult to discern, but there are figures on both sides. What symbolic significance do you see embedded in this coin? Curator: Well, the very act of minting coins is itself symbolic, isn't it? A declaration of power and stability. The portraits on coinage are never just likenesses; they are idealized representations meant to evoke authority. Do you notice any details that might hint at what virtues Probus wished to associate with his rule? Editor: Perhaps the inscription around the emperor's image? It's difficult to read, but it must have been meaningful at the time. Curator: Precisely! It's a coded message, intended to resonate with the values and beliefs of the Roman populace. It reminds us that even the smallest object can carry enormous cultural weight. Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. Now I see the coin as more than just currency. Curator: Exactly! That’s the enduring magic of symbols.