As of Antoninus Pius c. 140 - 143

Curator: This coin, "As of Antoninus Pius," now residing at the Harvard Art Museums, presents two faces of power and history, quite literally! Editor: My first thought? It feels like a relic whispering secrets across millennia. The patina evokes a sense of deep time, almost a geological artifact rather than something human-made. Curator: Absolutely, and that's part of its magic. It’s incredible to consider the ideologies and systems of control that this tiny object once represented. The image of Antoninus Pius is faded, yet the assertion of authority remains. Editor: True, but authority is always contingent. The coin’s very wear and tear speaks to the erosion of power, the transience of empires. Did the promise of Pax Romana extend to all under Roman rule, or only to some? Curator: What a question! It’s a reminder that even in objects seemingly celebrating power, shadows linger, and history has so many untold stories embedded in it. Editor: Exactly, and holding onto that awareness keeps art history relevant. These objects can act as mirrors, reflecting not just the past but our present assumptions too.