Coin of Constantius II, Antioch 350 - 355

Curator: So, we have here at the Harvard Art Museums a Coin of Constantius II minted in Antioch. It is easy to be moved by objects that have survived millennia. Editor: Absolutely. There’s something about holding a piece of history in your hand, feeling the weight of it—this one is 5.1 grams, by the way—and wondering about the countless hands it passed through. It's a portal to another world. Curator: Indeed. The coin itself is a statement in Roman imperial power; Constantius II, ruling in the 4th century, used these coins to assert his authority across the empire. The very patina of age speaks to the coin’s journey. Editor: What strikes me is the level of detail crammed into such a small space. The portrait, the inscription, even the depiction on the reverse side. It feels almost… cinematic, a miniature epic condensed onto metal. I wonder what the people who used this coin thought of the emperor. Curator: That's the beauty of numismatics, isn't it? It's not just about emperors and battles. It is about the daily lives of people, their economy and beliefs, distilled into these tiny metal discs. Editor: Well, I am left pondering what stories this little coin could tell about power, people, and the relentless march of time.