Denarius of Plautilla c. 202 - 205

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of Plautilla. The coin, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums, weighs a mere 3.3 grams. Editor: It's remarkable how this small, worn piece carries such presence. The details, though faded, evoke a sense of bygone power. Curator: Indeed. The material, likely silver, speaks to the economic systems and material culture of the time. Consider the labor involved in its production, the mining and minting processes. Editor: And on the face of it, Plautilla, immortalized in profile. On the reverse, we see what appears to be Concordia, emphasizing harmony. The imagery tells a clear story of imperial authority and aspirations. Curator: Absolutely. Each strike of the die, each carefully chosen image, served a purpose in shaping public perception. It’s fascinating to consider the social life of this coin—who held it, where it traveled. Editor: It's a tangible connection to the past. A symbol, a piece of currency, a tiny window into a world we can only imagine. Curator: A testament to the enduring power of material objects to convey meaning across centuries.