Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Gallienus, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks so worn! Time and the elements have certainly taken their toll on its surface. Curator: Indeed. The material degradation is quite evident; we can see the copper alloy breaking down, revealing its composite nature and the very processes of production and decay at work. Editor: It’s a poignant reminder of empire, isn’t it? Gallienus was emperor during a period of immense crisis. The creation of this coin was undoubtedly tied to political and economic anxieties, reflecting a need to assert power. Curator: Certainly. The coin’s production and circulation were very much tied to the maintenance of social order during a tumultuous period. Editor: It's fascinating to consider how a single coin could embody such a complex web of power, identity, and historical circumstance. Curator: Agreed; a humble object revealing the labor, materials, and political forces that shaped its existence.