Coin of Metropolis under Gordian III 238 - 244

Editor: Here we have a coin of Metropolis under Gordian III, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The wear and tear really speaks to its age. What stories do you see embedded in this object? Curator: I see a potent commentary on power, representation, and the narratives we construct around leaders. Considering Gordian III's tumultuous reign, this coin becomes a tangible artifact of imperial ambition and its inherent fragility. What does it tell us about how power seeks to immortalize itself? Editor: So, it’s not just a coin, it’s a statement? Curator: Precisely. And a question. How does such an object perpetuate or challenge dominant ideologies? It's about power, yes, but also about who gets to define history.