As of Trebonianus Gallus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an As of Trebonianus Gallus. The artist? Well, Trebonianus Gallus himself, in a way. It resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's incredible how much wear it shows. It makes me think of the hands it must have passed through, the transactions it facilitated. The very feel of the metal. Curator: Exactly. Coinage served not just as currency, but as propaganda. This imagery and inscription were tools to maintain power, communicating directly with the populace. Editor: And consider the labor involved in extracting the metal, refining it, striking each individual coin. It's a whole network of social relations solidified in this small object. Curator: Right. It's a material record of a specific time and place, reflecting the economic and political climate of Gallus's reign. Its worth was decided by social decree. Editor: It's fascinating how an object so small can tell such a large story about production and power. A powerful reminder to see the world in our hands.