Denarius of L. Antestius Gragulus, Rome c. 136

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of L. Antestius Gragulus from Rome, a silver coin now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs only 3.39 grams. Editor: It's fascinating, isn’t it? Like holding a whisper of history, a tiny, worn portal to another time. Curator: Indeed. The coin presents a helmeted figure on one side, while the other features a chariot scene. It's all about the process of minting, the control over resources, and the power it conveyed. Editor: The chariot scene feels almost frantic, chaotic – is that intentional? Curator: Possibly, or it reflects the practicalities of mass production, where detail is sometimes sacrificed for efficiency. The materiality itself speaks volumes about Roman economic power and its ability to distribute propaganda. Editor: So much from so little, right? Curator: Precisely. It’s a testament to how even something so small embodies monumental forces. Editor: A beautiful, ponderous, little thing!