Dupondius? of Commodus c. 2th century

Editor: This is a coin identified as Dupondius of Commodus, from the Harvard Art Museums collection. The material seems like a weathered bronze. What do you see in this artifact? Curator: Coins often act as miniature billboards of power. Consider the image of Commodus: What does his portrait, frozen in metal, communicate about his reign, his aspirations? Editor: I hadn't considered it as propaganda, I was only seeing corrosion. Curator: It is like a dream made material, a trace of an ancient world rendered visible again. Editor: Thinking about its symbolic weight changes everything. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, objects like these invite us to contemplate the enduring power of symbols.