Aureus of Pertinax c. 193

Editor: Here we have an Aureus of Pertinax from the Harvard Art Museums. It's a gold coin, and what strikes me is the weight it must have carried, not just as currency, but as a symbol of power. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the material: gold. Its intrinsic value speaks volumes about the Roman Empire’s control over resources and trade routes. How did this coin function within the Roman economy and its system of power? Editor: So, it's about the social and economic systems that allowed for such a material to be used in this way? Curator: Precisely. Think about the labor involved in mining, refining, and minting this coin. It represents a complex web of human effort, resource exploitation, and, ultimately, consumption. Understanding that helps us see beyond the image. Editor: That’s fascinating. I never considered the implications of the gold itself so deeply. Thanks!