Coin of Thessalonike under the Emperor Philip I (the Arab) c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a bronze coin from Thessalonike, issued under the Emperor Philip I, known as Philip the Arab. Editor: It looks like it has been through a lot, weathered but still holding onto its secrets. I wonder what hands it has passed through? Curator: Coins such as this were not merely currency, but tools of imperial propaganda, widely distributed to convey power and ideology. Consider the minting process itself. Editor: Right, the coin is a physical echo, and each strike of the die, a small story that ripples outward, connecting the emperor to the farthest reaches of his domain. It's all a bit poetic, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. It’s also a testament to the power of material culture in shaping perceptions and maintaining social order. Editor: Makes you wonder what future generations will make of our own pocket change.