Coin of Samos under Caracalla (Forgery) c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: Here we have a purported "Coin of Samos under Caracalla," currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection, weighing just over 19 grams. Editor: It looks like it has lived quite a life; the patinated surface tells a story of wear and handling. Curator: Indeed. It's fascinating how an object like this becomes a vessel of cultural memory, attempting to embody the power and reach of Caracalla’s empire through symbolic representation. Editor: I'm more interested in the labor involved in its production—the mining of the metals, the skill of the die cutter, the socioeconomic context that allowed for the production of coinage at such a scale. But how did they know it was a forgery? Curator: While intended to convey imperial authority, the fact that it is a forgery complicates that reading, doesn't it? Perhaps it speaks to the enduring allure of power and the impulse to replicate it. Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe the forger was simply trying to make a buck. Still, an object’s materiality can teach us a lot about past economies. Curator: Ultimately, whether authentic or not, it speaks to the enduring legacy of Caracalla and how symbols can transcend their original intention. Editor: Agreed. I'm left thinking about the human effort, and the economic systems that drove it.