Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Gallienus, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The coin's worn texture and muted tones evoke a palpable sense of history, almost tactile across the centuries. Curator: Indeed. These coins served as vital propaganda during Gallienus's reign, projecting power amid crisis and civil war. Coinage served not only economic purposes, but were also a powerful method of state messaging. Editor: The coin's surface, though eroded, retains a compositional integrity. The circular form is softened, suggesting its journey through time and the hands of many. Curator: The images on these coins, often portraits of emperors or gods, reflected the ideals and aspirations of Roman society. To touch it is to touch power. Editor: It's a humble object in scale, yet the textures hint at a grander narrative, a lost empire compressed into a palm-sized artifact. Curator: And through these humble artifacts, we gain insight into the political and social currents of ancient Rome. Editor: A fascinating contrast of scale and meaning. It certainly gives me pause.