Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums hold this intriguing object: an Antoninianus of Gallienus. Editor: It looks ancient and worn, yet incredibly weighty with history, doesn't it? What does it tell us? Curator: As currency from the Roman Empire, it signifies power, trade, and the emperor's reach, but its materiality also speaks to economic anxieties of the time. Editor: Absolutely. The image of Gallienus can be viewed as imperial propaganda but also how the public viewed the emperor in terms of gender, race, and class. Curator: Indeed, and considering its presence in museums today, it takes on new layers of meaning, representing not just Roman history but also the history of collecting and display. Editor: So, what at first glance might seem like a simple coin, in reality, opens up to a complex story about power, representation, and cultural value.