Denarius of L. Flaminius Chilo, Rome c. 109

Curator: We're looking at a Denarius of L. Flaminius Chilo, a Roman coin from an unknown date, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just under 4 grams. Editor: It feels haunted, doesn't it? The worn metal whispers stories. I imagine holding it and feeling a connection to someone centuries gone. Curator: Indeed. The coin features a portrait of Roma, helmeted, with a griffin below. On the reverse, Victory drives a biga, a two-horse chariot. Editor: Victory on fast horses, naturally! Roma, of course, embodies the spirit of the state. To hold power, to project it. The griffin adds a layer of fierce protection. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery is deeply symbolic. Roma's helmet signifies military strength, while Victory promises triumph. Editor: It makes you wonder about the hands it passed through, the hopes it represented, the power it signified. What if this coin could talk, eh? Curator: Each detail speaks volumes about Roman values and aspirations. It’s a testament to the symbolic weight of images in shaping cultural identity. Editor: A tangible fragment of a lost world. I'll keep that whisper in mind long after we leave.