Coin of Nicaea under Maximinus I c. 235 - 238

Curator: This coin, a 'Coin of Nicaea under Maximinus I,' is a fascinating artifact now residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The issuing artist was Maximinus I Thrax. Editor: It's heavy! Visually I mean. The dark patina and worn features evoke a sense of weightiness, like it carries the burdens of history. Curator: Indeed. Coins like these served not just as currency but as powerful propaganda. They disseminated images of the emperor and reinforced his authority throughout the Roman Empire. Editor: You can almost feel the emperor's presence, can't you? It's like holding a piece of his ego in your hand. A flattened, metal ego, but still. Curator: The city of Nicaea's agency in producing such coins also tells us about its economic and political status within the empire. These were crucial for local economies. Editor: It's amazing how something so small could have such a big impact. It really drives home how everything’s interconnected. Curator: Precisely. This little coin offers a window into the complex world of the Roman Empire. Editor: A tangible echo from a world both familiar and utterly lost to time.