Sestertius of Philip I 

Curator: Look at this beautiful Sestertius of Philip I, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The Emperor himself was the artist. Editor: Time definitely leaves its mark. I see so much rich verdigris, a green patina that makes me think of underwater treasures and stories whispered through generations. Curator: Indeed. Coins like this weren't just currency; they broadcast imperial power. The imagery, likely a portrait of Philip and perhaps a symbolic depiction on the reverse, reinforced his authority. Editor: That figure on the reverse—perhaps a deity? There’s a fascinating continuity here, how leaders still use images to shape public perception, albeit through different mediums today. Curator: Precisely! Examining how this coin circulated, who held it, and what they thought when looking at it reveals a lot about the Roman Empire's socio-political landscape. Editor: It's incredible to think that this small object once had so much political and symbolic weight. Curator: It serves as a potent reminder that even the smallest artifacts can echo across millennia. Editor: A tangible link to a distant past—a story imprinted on metal.