Antoninianus of Claudius II, Rome c. 268 - 270

Editor: Here we have an Antoninianus coin of Claudius II, a small artifact residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The coin’s surface has been weathered, almost like time has been imprinted on its very form. How do you see this coin speaking to us today? Curator: Well, isn’t it interesting how something so small can feel so weighty? It's a tangible link to the Roman Empire, you know? I imagine the hands it passed through, the markets it bought bread in, maybe even a soldier's wages. What stories do you think it could tell? Editor: I suppose stories of emperors and battles, definitely a connection to the past. Curator: Exactly. It is history you can hold in your hand! Maybe that's why I get a bit giddy thinking about it. Editor: It's certainly a lot to consider. Curator: For sure. It’s like a tiny, time-worn key unlocking a vast empire.