Denarius of Maximinus I Thrax c. 236 - 237

Curator: Here we have a Denarius of Maximinus I Thrax, held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like something you'd find glinting in the dirt, feels weighty with history, you know? Curator: Indeed. The Denarius, as a symbol, represents so much—power, trade, and the very fabric of Roman society, all encapsulated in this small metal disc. Editor: I imagine the profile here, Maximinus himself, wanted to project strength, but all I see is the weight of leadership etched into that face. Curator: Precisely. Coins like this served as propaganda, projecting the emperor’s desired image and messages throughout the empire. Editor: Makes you wonder what images we’re minting today that'll resonate in centuries to come. Curator: It offers a potent reminder: symbols endure, and their meanings evolve across time. Editor: So true; art speaks to us always, only the dialect shifts.