Coin of Seleucia ad Calykadnos under Gordion III c. 238 - 244

Curator: Oh, how incredibly human. Even in miniature, we see empires rise and fall, captured on something as simple as this coin. Editor: It's the "Coin of Seleucia ad Calykadnos under Gordion III" residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating how a small object can carry so much weight. Curator: I love its worn texture, the way history has eroded it. It feels like holding a piece of time, doesn't it? You can almost imagine who might have held this once. Editor: Absolutely. And who benefited from its circulation? Power dynamics were literally stamped onto these coins. The image of Gordian III is about legitimacy. Curator: You’re so right. And seeing it now, displayed so carefully, elevates it beyond currency, almost turning it into a talisman, a relic. Editor: It makes you ponder who decides what gets preserved, and whose stories get told, or in this case, minted. Curator: Precisely. It’s a lovely little mirror reflecting grand narratives, or perhaps reminding us that even grand narratives eventually crumble. Editor: Indeed. May we continue to reflect on these narratives, and the perspectives they include, and erase.