Denarius of Caracalla 

Editor: Here we have a Denarius of Caracalla, a Roman coin currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It seems small and worn, yet something about the profile feels powerful. What can you tell me about this object? Curator: It's fascinating how a small coin can tell a story of power and identity. Coins were tools of propaganda, each image carefully chosen. What does Caracalla's image project? Does it look similar to the ways emperors are depicted today? Editor: I don't know, what do you mean? Curator: Well, how does it differ from images of leaders in our current media landscape? Caracalla’s portrayal would have been carefully crafted to solidify his power and project a specific image to the Roman populace. Who was this image meant to include, and who was it designed to exclude? Editor: I guess that is a very good question to consider. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! Thinking about historical and social context is key to understanding any artwork.