Dupondius of Alexander Severus 

Curator: This is a dupondius of Alexander Severus, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like holding history in your hand, isn't it? I find it almost meditative, this little bronze disc worn smooth by time. Curator: The coin represents not only the economic system of its time but also the iconography and power structures of the Roman Empire. Editor: Definitely, I can see those traces of power – the seated figure looking a bit like a judge. It makes me wonder about all the hands it's passed through. Curator: These coins were tools of propaganda, portraying the emperor in ways that reinforced his authority, contributing to an imperial cult of personality. Editor: Looking at it now, with its green patina, it feels less like a symbol of authority and more like a relic. A small, precious thing that whispers stories. Curator: Precisely, and by studying these artifacts, we gain insight into the complex intersections of economics, politics, and identity in ancient Rome. Editor: Right, a tiny thing that opens into a universe of the past. I keep imagining the marketplace where this was spent; the sounds, the smells, the lives of people!