Sestertius of Commodus c. 2th century

Editor: Here we have a Sestertius of Commodus from the Harvard Art Museums. It is a coin, showing its age with a beautiful patina. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The coin exemplifies the formal qualities inherent to numismatic art. Note the carefully modeled relief of Commodus's portrait, contrasted with the reverse's equestrian figure. Editor: Equestrian figure? I hadn't noticed. Curator: Yes. The composition reveals a balance between imperial authority, embodied by the portrait, and the dynamic energy suggested by the horse. Consider the tactile quality—the coin’s weight, its worn edges. What do these elements communicate? Editor: It suggests power and an everyday connection to the past. Curator: Precisely.