AE Gratian 

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin, identified as AE Gratian, bearing the name of the artist, Gratian, and currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Oh, it's gorgeous! It feels ancient and weighty with history; the patina gives it such character. I imagine it's been through a lot, bouncing in purses and pockets throughout time. Curator: Indeed. The materiality speaks to its function as a medium of exchange, reflecting the economic and social systems of its time. Mass production was facilitated by casting molds, and each coin represented a small fraction of labor. Editor: Thinking of hands touching this... Like a tiny, tangible link to the past. The portrait on one side, the figure on the other... each is a little story. It’s like holding a whisper of the Roman Empire. Curator: Absolutely. Examining the coin's distribution patterns and wear can reveal insights into trade routes, economic activity, and the extent of Roman influence. Editor: It makes you consider what small objects, everyday objects, will tell our story centuries from now. Quite humbling, really. Curator: Precisely. Such objects offer invaluable insights into the past, and perhaps a mirror to our present.