Coin (AE2/3) of Valentinian I 367 - 375

Curator: Here we have a coin, an AE2/3, of Valentinian I, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me immediately is its weathered texture. The rough, uneven surface speaks to its age and history. Curator: Indeed. As currency, the coin facilitated trade and embodied the emperor’s authority, visually and materially representing power and control throughout the empire. Editor: Looking closely, the degradation almost obscures the forms. The relief suggests a portrait on one side and a figure on the other; it's a study in the effects of time on form. Curator: It prompts us to consider the durability of power itself, how the images and symbols intended to project strength can erode, prompting questions about enduring legacies. Editor: It's fascinating how such a small object can carry such weight—both materially and symbolically. Curator: Absolutely. It offers a potent reminder of the complex interplay between power, representation, and historical context.