Sestertius of Philip II c. 3th century

Editor: This is a Sestertius featuring Philip II. What's striking is how this small coin embodies an entire regime's power and aspirations. How do you interpret this work through that lens? Curator: Precisely. Coins like this weren't just currency; they were powerful propaganda tools, circulating carefully constructed images of imperial authority. The portrait flattens and idealizes, yet it served to project a very particular image of power at a critical historical juncture, in the Roman Empire. How does understanding this context shift your perception of the coin? Editor: It makes me think about how even everyday objects can be loaded with political meaning and social commentary. Curator: Absolutely! This coin, while small, speaks volumes about identity, power, and the narratives a regime wishes to inscribe onto history.