Antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus, pierced c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Trebonianus Gallus from the Harvard Art Museums, a coin, pierced with a hole. Editor: It feels strangely intimate, considering its age. The piercing gives it the quality of a charm or amulet. Curator: Indeed. The presence of that hole transforms our interpretation of this object as currency. It’s no longer simply a medium of exchange. Editor: So, what purpose did it serve? Was it perhaps worn as jewelry? Or was it used for some other ritualistic practice? Curator: It's not possible to know for sure, but these questions allow us to speculate about the cultural contexts and private lives involved. Editor: Such an ordinary object, transformed by a single act of alteration. It makes you wonder about the lives it has touched. Curator: Precisely, the mundane can become quite profound when viewed through the lens of history. It reveals the layers of meaning embedded in even the smallest objects.