Sestertius of Lucius Verus c. 2th century

Curator: This is a sestertius of Lucius Verus, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It has a melancholic weight about it, doesn't it? The weathered bronze makes the images on the coin feel ancient and stoic. Curator: Absolutely. The use of bronze was quite common for lower denomination coinage in the Roman Empire. Its affordability allowed for mass production and circulation. Editor: The eagle on the reverse is striking. As a symbol, it speaks of Roman imperial power, military strength, and divine authority. It's a visual shorthand for Roman dominance. Curator: And if you look closely at the portrait of Verus, the techniques employed by the minters would have included die-engraving. Each coin was struck, a mass production of propaganda. Editor: You can almost feel the weight of history pressing down on the images. What a potent symbol of power encapsulated within a humble coin. Curator: Indeed, examining it this way reveals so much about the Roman economy and its relationship to imperial ideology. Editor: It is quite remarkable how such a small object can contain such a wealth of information.