Antoninianus of Tetricus II, Caesar 270 - 273

Curator: This is an Antoninianus of Tetricus II, Caesar, a small coin currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Wow, it looks… worn, doesn’t it? Like a little bronze pebble carrying the weight of history. Curator: Indeed. These coins served as powerful tools for disseminating imperial ideology, especially during times of political instability. Editor: I can imagine someone clutching this, hoping it would buy them safety or a bit of bread. Curator: The iconography, though faded, speaks volumes about power dynamics and legitimization strategies within the Roman Empire. The portrait of Tetricus II is particularly interesting when viewed through the lens of dynastic succession. Editor: It’s amazing how much narrative can be packed onto something so small and unassuming. Kind of humbling, actually. Curator: Precisely. Examining such artifacts allows us to excavate the complex social, economic, and political layers of the past. Editor: Makes you think about what stories our own pocket change will tell centuries from now.