Coin of Marcianopolis under Gordian III & Tranquillina c. 3th century

Editor: This is a coin of Marcianopolis under Gordian III & Tranquillina, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks incredibly weathered. What symbols do you notice embedded within it? Curator: The weathering itself becomes a symbol, doesn’t it? Consider the generations who held this coin, its journey through time. Do you see how the portraits, though faded, still subtly project power and authority? These images were carefully chosen to evoke specific values and associations within their culture. Editor: So the coin is meant to communicate stability despite its appearance of age? Curator: Precisely. The coin acts as a cultural touchstone, connecting us to the Roman past through enduring symbols. Editor: It’s amazing to consider what stories an object like this could tell. Curator: Indeed. Each coin is a tiny window into a complex world of meaning.