Coin of Caesarea Mazaca under Antoninus Pius 

Curator: Here we have a coin of Caesarea Mazaca under Antoninus Pius, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Wow, it's small and seems unassuming at first, but it radiates this intense sense of history, doesn't it? Like holding a whisper from a vanished empire. Curator: Absolutely. Coins like these weren't just currency; they were instruments of imperial propaganda. This one probably helped cement Antoninus Pius' image in a distant province. Editor: I see the emperor's profile, quite dignified, though weathered by time. And what's on the other side? A tree? Some kind of symbol? Curator: It's likely a representation of the region's natural resources or local deities, meant to integrate local culture within the broader Roman framework. Editor: A gentle reminder of who's in charge, subtly pressed into everyday life. It's funny, something so tiny could carry so much weight. Curator: Precisely. These artifacts remind us that even seemingly mundane objects can reveal profound insights into the power dynamics of the past. Editor: Makes you wonder what stories this coin could tell, if it could talk.