Coin of Claudius II Gothicus? c. 3th century

Curator: Before us, we have a fascinating artifact: a "Coin of Claudius II Gothicus?" currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighing a mere 2.57 grams. Editor: The patina immediately strikes me – a sort of verdigris overlaid on the reddish-brown metal. You can almost feel the labor and time etched into its surface. Curator: Indeed. The coin offers a fascinating study in the symbolic language of power. Note the figural representation, the inscriptions that frame the imagery; these are carefully constructed visual statements. Editor: And consider the social implications! Each coin, produced en masse, represents a moment of exchange, a transaction of power and value within the Roman system. The act of striking the metal, of distributing these objects, is itself a performative act of the state. Curator: True, but let us not lose sight of the semiotic structuring at play. Each element functions as a signifier in a complex system of representation. Editor: Well, I am struck by the physical act of making it. Who handled this? How many hands did it pass through? Curator: A productive tension, wouldn't you say? A dialogue between object and idea, matter and meaning. Editor: Absolutely. It is more than just a coin; it’s a tangible fragment of history.