Antoninianus of Tetricus I, Barbarous Imitation c. 3th century

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Tetricus I, a "Barbarous Imitation." It's at the Harvard Art Museums. What strikes me is how worn down it looks. What kind of story do you see in it? Curator: Its degraded state speaks volumes, doesn't it? These "barbarous imitations" weren't just about counterfeiting; they were about subverting power. Who gets to define value, who gets to control the narrative? It challenges the very notion of a centralized, authoritative empire. Editor: So, the imperfections are the point? Curator: Precisely. Think about who was making these. Often, it was marginalized communities pushing back against Roman authority, appropriating and altering symbols of power. Editor: That's such a cool way of seeing it. I'd never considered that. Curator: It makes you wonder about the power dynamics inherent in art and currency, doesn't it?