Sestertius of Herennia Etruscilla 250 - 251

Curator: Here we have a sestertius, a bronze coin, of Herennia Etruscilla, which resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like holding history in your hand—or at least, imagining doing so. The patina tells such a story of time and touch. Curator: Indeed, the wear and texture reveal much about its circulation and use. Note the careful rendering of Etruscilla’s portrait. The rigid structure of her features. Editor: I find it haunting, how the image both asserts power and is eroded by time. There's a vulnerability there, a reminder of empires past. Curator: Considering its formal composition, the interplay of relief and the coin's circular form creates a closed, self-referential system. Editor: But those very constraints make it sing! It’s a tiny world, yet full of grand themes of power, legacy, and the inevitable decay of all things. Curator: A fitting observation. It encapsulates a tangible record of artistic and historical values. Editor: And a powerful reminder of the stories objects can tell, if we’re willing to listen.