Sestertius of Gordian III

Editor: This is a Sestertius of Gordian III from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s small, but weighty. The wear suggests a long life in circulation. How do you interpret this work? Curator: I see a direct link to the labor involved in minting currency. Consider the mines that extracted the metal, the artisans crafting the die, and the state controlling its distribution. It's a material manifestation of imperial power and trade networks. Editor: So, it's less about Gordian III himself and more about the economic system it represents? Curator: Exactly. The coin embodies Roman economic infrastructure and how the state co-opted artistic production to solidify its authority. Every scratch speaks to its journey through the hands of many. Editor: That makes me think differently about value and labor. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to question the relationship between art, labor, and the power structures that govern their creation and consumption.