As of Maximinus I c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a coin, titled "As of Maximinus I," belonging to the collection at the Harvard Art Museums, made during the reign of Maximinus Thrax. Editor: Its weathered surface and mottled texture give it an aura of ancient mystery. The scale seems so intimate, yet it speaks to the vastness of history. Curator: These small, everyday objects like coins are vital. They circulated widely, shaping the economic and social lives of countless individuals. The minting and distribution were carefully controlled by the state. Editor: The relief, although worn, retains a certain stoic quality. There's a figure, a symbol, embedded in the visual language of the time. I feel a subtle tension in the design. Curator: Indeed. These coins weren't just currency; they were also propaganda. They conveyed power, legitimacy, and imperial ideology. They were tools of empire, consumed and handled by all levels of society. Editor: Thinking about this object's journey through time, and the information it carries about a society, is quite moving. Curator: Precisely. These material remnants provide valuable insights into labor practices, trade networks, and the socio-political landscape of the era.