As of Antoninus Pius c. 2th century

Curator: Up next we have a fascinating coin, "As of Antoninus Pius", currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The patina immediately strikes me. It’s a beautiful, almost verdigris green, suggesting the long and slow work of oxidation on the material. Curator: Absolutely, and the material is key. We're looking at bronze, a common material for coinage in the Roman era, and integral to its value and circulation within the Roman empire. Editor: And how this coin acted as a miniature billboard, disseminating the emperor's image and authority throughout the vast territories. Curator: Exactly, mass production shaping political identity! It’s a testament to the power of repeated imagery and how labor and production intersect. Editor: It's fascinating how such a small object can carry so much historical weight, from its production to its role in shaping perceptions of power. Curator: Indeed, it’s a potent reminder of the ways in which power is both materially produced and socially consumed.