Antoninianus of Gallienus c. 3th century

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Gallienus, a Roman coin held at the Harvard Art Museums. One side features a portrait, the other an allegorical figure with scales. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the figure of Justice on the reverse is fascinating. It speaks to a yearning for order and balance during a time of significant upheaval. The radiate crown on Gallienus’ portrait symbolizes the sun, divinity, and perhaps a desperate attempt to bolster his legitimacy through iconography. Editor: So, the coin is trying to communicate stability, but the symbols also hint at the chaos of the time? Curator: Precisely! The images reveal a carefully constructed cultural narrative, meant to project strength, but perhaps betraying underlying anxieties about power and stability. Editor: I never thought a coin could hold so much meaning. Curator: Symbols are never neutral; they carry the weight of history and the aspirations of those who wield them.