As of Antoninus Pius c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin; it’s entitled "As of Antoninus Pius" and resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like holding history in your hand! So small, yet it carries the weight of an empire. I see a patina of time, a mottled green and brown that whispers stories of long ago. Curator: Precisely. Coins like this one served as propaganda, circulating images of the emperor throughout the Roman world. What we see represented here is not just currency, but also imperial power. Editor: It's funny to think this little thing was once so valuable. Now, its value is in its story, in what it can teach us about that world, the people who touched it, the rulers it represented. Curator: Absolutely, its continued existence and preservation in collections is a testament to its significance. Editor: It makes you wonder what other treasures are hidden, waiting to be rediscovered. Curator: Indeed. This coin serves as a tangible link to the past.