Coin of Huvishka c. 111 - 129

Curator: I'm struck by the weight of history in such a small object. This is a coin of Huvishka, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Gold always has an immediate impact. And the raised figures, despite their wear, seem full of symbolic presence. Curator: These coins served as propaganda, circulating Huvishka’s image and legitimizing his rule. Coinage reflects the socio-political landscape. Editor: The standing figure on the reverse, holding what looks like a scepter, carries an interesting echo of classical iconography. A sign of cultural exchange, perhaps? Curator: Absolutely. The Kushan Empire was a crossroads. These coins demonstrate the confluence of Greek, Roman, and Central Asian imagery, all serving Huvishka’s imperial ambitions. Editor: It's fascinating to think of the cultural information embedded within such a small, everyday object—and how it persists across millennia. Curator: Indeed, a tiny window into a vast empire.