As of Herennius Etruscus c. 251

Editor: Here we have a coin, "As of Herennius Etruscus," by Etruscus. It's at the Harvard Art Museums and weighs about 10 grams. It looks so worn and pitted. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Observe how the circular form, though damaged, still commands attention. The incised portrait, despite its degradation, reveals a precise and deliberate application of line. Do you notice the tension between the idealised imperial image and the realities of material decay? Editor: Yes, I see that now! It's like two stories are being told at once. Curator: Precisely. The coin embodies a paradox—power and transience coexisting in a single object. It prompts contemplation on the nature of representation. Editor: I hadn't considered the formal qualities in such a conceptual way. Thank you! Curator: A close analysis of form often reveals deeper meaning.