Sestertius of Gordianus III c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a Sestertius of Gordianus III, a Roman coin currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There’s something haunting about it, the way time has worn down the details yet the image remains. Curator: The coin itself, weighing 17.12 grams, would have been instrumental in facilitating the Roman economy and disseminating Gordian's image. Its materiality speaks of trade, power, and daily life in the Roman Empire. Editor: It’s fascinating how such a small object played such a huge role in socio-political control, the very image of the emperor used to convey authority. Curator: Exactly, the politics of imagery extending to even the most mundane objects of exchange. Editor: Looking at this worn piece, I’m struck by how the meaning imbued in its making has shifted over centuries. Curator: Indeed, and studying it today allows us to unpack the layered contexts of production, power, and legacy.