Coin of Thessalonike under the Empress Salonina 

Editor: Here we have a coin of Thessalonike under the Empress Salonina, at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like it's been through a lot. What meaning do you see imbued within this object? Curator: It's interesting to consider what an object like this represented in its time, a symbol of imperial power, and what it represents now. The image of Salonina, even worn, carried weight. Editor: So it’s like a cultural memory preserved in metal? Curator: Precisely! It evokes an entire era, and her presence—her very identity—was stamped onto these coins. What do you think this object meant to the people who handled it daily? Editor: It's amazing how such a small thing holds so much history. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: It's a pleasure to share these hidden stories.