Sestertius of Maximinus I 

Curator: The Harvard Art Museums present a sestertius attributed to Maximinus I Thrax. This bronze coin weighs 17.91 grams. Editor: Gosh, it looks like it’s been through a lot, doesn't it? All that wear and tear... if coins could talk, right? Curator: Indeed. The coin, assessed formally, bears an imperial portrait on one side, displaying Maximinus's profile, and a figure on the reverse. Editor: To me, it evokes a sense of ancient power and the passage of time, all captured in this small, battered object. It kind of hints at the brutal simplicity of Roman rule. Curator: It's a fascinating relic—a material object that opens up avenues to consider the emperor's image and the economic systems of the period. Editor: Thinking about who held this—what they bought with it... it's like a direct connection to the past. Curator: Precisely, and through its design and condition, we gain valuable insight into a distant era. Editor: Agreed. What a powerful little thing.