As of Commodus c. 2th century

Curator: Here we have a coin titled "As of Commodus," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The artist is listed as Commodus himself. Editor: My first thought is the patina, that green speaks volumes of time and the material transformation! Curator: Indeed, its very composition – the circular form, the low relief imagery – is a statement about power and its dissemination. Editor: More like its accessibility! These coins were made for circulation, connecting the emperor to the everyday commerce and labor of the empire. Curator: But isn't the intention to create a symbolic representation of authority through carefully chosen images and inscriptions? Editor: Perhaps, but think of the workers, the miners extracting the metals, the craftsmen meticulously striking each coin. It’s a whole system of labor embodied in this small object! Curator: A fascinating perspective, reframing our understanding of the coin's artistic intention through the lens of its creation. Editor: Absolutely, a tiny window into a vast world of labor.