Coin of Mallos under Macrinus c. 217 - 218

Curator: What strikes me immediately about this coin of Mallos under Macrinus is its brutal honesty—the wear and tear of time have only amplified the character etched upon it. Editor: Indeed. This artifact, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums, isn't merely currency; it's a potent symbol of imperial power and its dissemination. Curator: Look at the profile of Macrinus—the sharp nose, the determined chin. It is an archetype of leadership striving for an image of strength and wisdom. Editor: But consider the context. Macrinus's reign was brief and tumultuous. This coin, meant to project stability, might instead be a poignant reminder of fleeting power. Its creation speaks to a larger political narrative. Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe this coin, through its images, reveals more continuity than disruption—a link to previous rulers and a visual language of governance. Editor: A visual language meant to be consumed and understood by a wide audience, certainly. It reminds us that even the smallest objects can reveal profound truths about history and human ambition.