Sestertius of Antoninus Pius c. 150 - 151

Editor: Here we have the Sestertius of Antoninus Pius from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a coin, so small, but it feels weighty with history. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, let's consider the material itself: bronze. This wasn't just art; it was currency. It fueled the Roman economy. How does the image itself, produced through the labor of die-making and striking, reflect the emperor's power and its relationship to the everyday exchange? Editor: So the act of creating currency was itself an expression of power? Curator: Precisely. And consider the wear, the handling of this object. Each transaction, each touch, leaves its mark. What stories do these imperfections tell about its journey through time and society? Editor: That's fascinating. I’ll never look at a coin the same way again. Curator: Indeed. The materials and their use are deeply intertwined with the political and social structures of the time.