coin of Philip I

Curator: Here we have a coin of Philip I, also known as Philip the Arab, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks so worn! The materiality really speaks to its age and use. You can almost feel the hands that held it. Curator: Precisely. Coins like this served as powerful propaganda tools, circulating images of the emperor throughout the vast Roman empire. Its creation and distribution cemented Philip’s authority. Editor: The means of production would have involved a sophisticated understanding of metalworking and die-casting, but also highlights the role of the enslaved laborers who extracted those resources. Curator: True. The coin also reminds us of the empire's dependence on resource extraction and trade, reflecting a complex intersection of power, labor, and material culture. Editor: Seeing the coin in this state really makes you think about all the hands its been through. Curator: Indeed. This artifact offers tangible insight into the structures of power and daily life in the Roman world.