Sestertius of Maximus c. 236 - 237

Curator: This is a Sestertius of Maximus Caesar, a bronze coin held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: What strikes me is its worn texture. The patina of age speaks volumes, almost obscuring the images. Curator: Indeed, this coin offers a glimpse into the complex power dynamics of the Roman Empire, particularly the brief reign of Maximus as Caesar. It's fascinating to consider the messages it conveyed about imperial authority and legitimacy. Editor: The composition, despite its small scale, is quite formal. The careful arrangement of text and portrait on the obverse, and the figures on the reverse, lends it a sense of permanence. Curator: And for whom was this permanence intended? How did everyday people interpret these symbols of power? It makes me consider issues of class and access within the Roman Empire. Editor: The coin’s very materiality, the bronze itself, speaks to the economic and social systems in play. Curator: Thinking about its journey through time and the hands it passed through…it’s a poignant reminder of the ebb and flow of history.