Sestertius of Commodus 

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius, a bronze coin of Commodus, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite worn, isn't it? What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: Consider the labor involved in its creation: the mining of the metals, the striking of the coin, and its subsequent use as a medium of exchange. This object embodies economic and social power, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Yes, it's fascinating to think about all the hands it passed through. Curator: Exactly! It transcends simple representation. Its true value lies in the material conditions of its making and circulation. Editor: I hadn’t thought about it like that. It gives a whole new appreciation for the coin as a historical artifact.