Dupondius of Valerian I c. 3th century

Editor: Here we have a Dupondius of Valerian I, a Roman coin, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s seen better days! It looks kind of rough, honestly. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Time, definitely. The way the metal has shifted, the story etched by corrosion, that’s time talking. It whispers of empires, doesn’t it? Of hands that bartered, of pockets it warmed. Imagine the faces it has seen! Editor: Wow, I never thought of it like that. So much history embedded in a coin. Curator: Absolutely! And this wasn't just money, it was propaganda, a statement of power, a mini billboard of the era. Look at the portrait, what does it communicate? Editor: The portrait feels… distant, almost stern. It’s interesting to think about how people viewed power back then. Thanks, I see it differently now. Curator: Precisely! Every scratch, every imperfection is a testament. History isn't always pretty, is it?