Sestertius of Antoninus Pius, Rome c. 148 - 149

Editor: Here we have a Roman Sestertius of Antoninus Pius, a bronze coin, worn with age. What can you tell me about its historical importance? Curator: Coins like this were powerful propaganda tools. Consider how Antoninus Pius, a relatively unknown successor, used imagery to legitimize his rule, connecting himself to previous emperors and projecting an image of stability and prosperity to the Roman populace. What messages do you think the imagery conveys? Editor: Perhaps peace and strength? It's incredible how such a small object held such political weight. Curator: Precisely. And think about how its survival and presence in a collection like Harvard's shapes our understanding of Roman history today. It's a testament to the enduring power of images.