Sestertius of Marcus Aurelius c. 140

Editor: Here we have a sestertius of Marcus Aurelius, though the artist is Antoninus Pius. The weight is listed as 28.15 grams. The wear and tear really show the history of the piece. What does this object say to you? Curator: As a materialist, I see not just the portrait of power, but also the labor involved in its extraction and creation. Bronze wasn't simply lying on the ground ready to be stamped. Editor: So, you're thinking of the mining and the minting process? Curator: Precisely! Consider the social context embedded in this small object. How does its circulation reflect the economic realities of the Roman Empire? And how does its survival speak to its inherent material value? Editor: That’s a really interesting way to look at it, thank you! Curator: My pleasure!