Antoninianus of Diocletian 296 - 297

Curator: Immediately, I am struck by the degradation of the metal. Its surface tells a story of time and exposure. Editor: Indeed. We are looking at an Antoninianus of Diocletian, a Roman coin that would have been in circulation during his reign. Curator: The incised portrait on the obverse presents a fascinating study in line and form. Look at how the artist suggested depth with such minimal modelling. Editor: Coins such as this functioned as propaganda, circulating the emperor's image and, by extension, his power throughout the vast Roman Empire. Curator: I see a static quality in the composition, as though the emperor’s image is meant to be immutable, eternal. But the wear on it shows that this is not the case. Editor: Absolutely. They speak volumes about Diocletian's efforts to stabilize the empire through visual messaging. Curator: In these small, everyday objects, we discover grand strategies. Editor: And a tangible connection to a distant past.