As of Maximus c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an "As" of Maximus, a Roman bronze coin residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like it’s been fished out of a swamp, that lovely green patina just screams history, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely, the coin is a window into the visual language of power. Notice the emperor's profile. It’s not just a likeness; it's a statement of authority. Editor: Though, I must say, time hasn't been kind. His face seems worn, like a memory fading. It makes you think about the impermanence of even the greatest empires. Curator: Indeed, the coin, once a symbol of Roman strength, now evokes a sense of time's relentless march. But the symbols endure, reminding us of the echoes of the past that resonate even now. Editor: It's oddly beautiful how something so degraded can still carry so much weight— both literally and figuratively. A tangible link to a world so different, yet still hauntingly familiar.