As of Cornelia Salonina 253 - 268

Curator: The As of Cornelia Salonina, a small, weighty coin residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, whispers to me of empires long past. It's remarkable, isn't it? Editor: It feels oddly melancholic, even with so little surface area. The worn details suggest a story of constant handling, passing from hand to hand. Curator: It's a portrait, really. Salonina's profile, a queen rendered in humble metal. I wonder, did she ever hold one of these, see her own face so reduced? Editor: Think of the labor involved, though. The mining, smelting, striking of dies...each coin a product of intense effort and resource extraction. Power isn’t just symbolized, it’s materially produced. Curator: And lost! So many hands, so many pockets...each coin a tiny piece of a shared history, vanished and then rediscovered. Editor: It’s fascinating how this object highlights the interconnectedness of people, resources, and power. Curator: It leaves me pondering the fleeting nature of power and beauty. Editor: And me, considering the concrete realities behind abstract notions of empire.