Sestertius of Philip II c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a Sestertius, or bronze coin, of Philip II, held by the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just over 19 grams. Editor: There's something haunting about holding history in your hand like this, this tarnished bronze, once so shiny, speaks of power. Curator: Think about the labor involved in minting coins like these, the mining, smelting, and striking. This reflects the Roman empire's massive economic and administrative undertaking. Editor: And the faces! Imperious profiles gazing out, yet now worn away by time and touch. Who held this? What did they buy? Curator: These coins served as tools for trade and propaganda, circulating not just economic value but also imperial authority and iconography. Editor: It's a tangible connection to an empire, isn't it? So small, yet so loaded with meaning. I feel a strange sense of kinship. Curator: Exactly, and considering the materiality, the wear and tear really highlights that link to past economies and everyday transactions. Editor: The coin whispers tales of emperors and everyday people, a constant echo of history in our hands.