Coin of Germe under Gordian III Africanus c. 238 - 244

Curator: Here we have a coin of Germe under Gordian III Africanus, housed right here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The patina is quite striking. It speaks of age, of course, but also somehow softens the sharpness of the imperial profile. Curator: Indeed. The coin, issued under Gordian III, bears the mark of Germe, reflecting its local significance within the Roman Empire. Coins were powerful visual symbols of imperial authority. Editor: The use of relief is interesting here. It flattens the figure, almost like a two-dimensional representation struggling to escape its metallic prison. Curator: Coins functioned as portable propaganda, circulating not only monetary value but also potent cultural messages, reinforcing Roman power across vast territories. Editor: It’s a small object, but its texture, the degradation of the metal, and the carefully wrought images all belie its immense historical weight. Curator: It makes you wonder about all the hands it has passed through, doesn't it? Editor: Absolutely. A tangible fragment of a forgotten age.