Sestertius of Alexander Severus 

Curator: Here we have a Sestertius of Alexander Severus, held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Wow, that thing looks like it's been through some battles. I can almost smell the arena dust on it. Curator: Indeed, the patina suggests a long history. Observe the portrait's composition, the calculated distribution of weight and line. Editor: I love how time and touch have softened the hard edges. It whispers a story of empires rising and crumbling. Like a poem written in metal. Curator: Precisely. The Severan dynasty's decline might be encoded even in the coin's eroded surfaces. Editor: It's just incredible to think someone held this coin, spent it on bread, maybe even dreamed on it. It's like holding history in your palm. Curator: Yes, the object's materiality and visual language converge to evoke contemplation on power, legacy and time. Editor: Absolutely, after looking at the formal side of things, I see a portal into the past, a connection to human experience. Curator: A fitting observation. Thank you for joining me in exploring this artifact.