Coin of Thessalonike under Commodus as a Child c. 2th century

Curator: This is a coin of Thessalonike under Commodus as a Child, presently held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. The dimensions indicate a weight of 5.47 grams. Editor: It’s remarkable how weighty history feels when you look at something so small, almost worn smooth by time. Curator: Indeed. The visible signs of wear and patination are integral to understanding this numismatic artifact, which gives insight into the cultural and economic systems of its time. We have a portrait of the boy emperor on one side and a wreath design on the other. Editor: I find myself pondering the hands through which this passed, the daily exchanges it facilitated. It really underscores the link between art, labor, and broader social structures. Curator: Precisely. The coin's composition, its bas-relief, all speak to the artistic conventions of the era, and Commodus's self-fashioning of power. Editor: Seeing the coin as a designed object, mass-produced for circulation, offers a rich view of the period's materiality and economy, while also challenging our notions of high and low art. Curator: Agreed. This piece invites us to contemplate Commodus and also the society that minted and circulated it. Editor: It's a profound reminder of the intimate connections between power, art, and the everyday.