As? of Maximinus I, holed c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an As? of Maximinus I, now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's clearly aged, with that deep green patina; it gives it a certain gravitas despite its small size. And is that a hole? Curator: Yes, "holed" is part of the title. Likely it was worn as adornment. These coins offer a direct link to Roman imperial power, mass-produced, yet circulated widely. Editor: The debasement of coinage under rulers like Maximinus, using cheaper metals, speaks volumes about the socio-economic strains of the period and the state of Roman material culture. Curator: Absolutely. The imagery and inscription promoted the emperor's authority. Even a "holed" coin tells a story of power, utility, and adaptation by those who lived under his rule. Editor: Indeed. I see now that the material speaks, literally, of the conditions of its making and the labor involved. Curator: A fascinating intersection of historical and material narratives. Editor: A coin, a jewel, a sign of the times all in one.