AE Caracalla 

Editor: Here we have "AE Caracalla," an ancient coin, presumably from the reign of the emperor himself. It's weighty, worn smooth with age. What stories do you think it holds? Curator: Ah, this humble coin! Touchstones like this remind us that even emperors eventually turn to dust. This coin isn't just metal; it's a whisper from an empire. Can you see the portrait? That's Caracalla himself, or at least the image he wanted you to see. Editor: So, it’s like ancient propaganda? Curator: Precisely! Money talks, even back then. Think about it—this coin jingled in pockets, bought bread, maybe even paid a soldier’s wages. Now it sits here, a portal to a world both familiar and utterly lost. It gives me the shivers in the best way! Editor: I’ll never look at pocket change the same way again!