Antoninianus of Trajan Decius c. 3th century

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Trajan Decius, a Roman coin, at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels like a tangible connection to the past. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The Antoninianus offers a lens into the construction of imperial power and its dissemination. Decius, a short-reigned emperor, needed to legitimize his rule quickly. How do you think these images functioned in circulating his authority and identity throughout a vast, diverse empire? Editor: So, this wasn't just money; it was propaganda? Curator: Precisely. Coinage was a primary medium for projecting power, linking the emperor's image with ideas of stability and prosperity. The representation of deities on the reverse, often associated with Roman virtues, further reinforced this message. It's a complex intersection of politics, religion, and identity. Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Curator: Ancient coins like this serve as a crucial reminder of how visual culture has always been intertwined with power dynamics.