Denarius of Elagabalus c. 220 - 222

Curator: This object is a Denarius of Elagabalus, held in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. It weighs just under 3 grams. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is its smallness, yet somehow it feels incredibly weighty, like concentrated history in your palm. Curator: Indeed. Consider the material. Silver wasn't just plucked from the earth; it was mined, traded, and stamped, entering into the Roman economy. Labor underpins its very existence. Editor: And the image! The profile, that stern, almost pained expression—it's haunting. I can almost feel the weight of his reign pressing down. Curator: This wasn't just currency; it was propaganda, circulated widely to project an image of power and legitimacy. Think about the distribution networks! Editor: It's amazing to think that something so small could carry such a huge symbolic load. I feel like I've been holding history in my hand, not just a coin. Curator: Exactly. It reminds us to look beyond surface appearances to consider the complex systems of labor, exchange, and power that shape our world.