Coin of Akko-Ptolemais under Valerian c. 253 - 260

Editor: This is a coin from Akko-Ptolemais under Valerian I, over 10 grams of history held right here. It looks pretty worn, but there’s something about the image of the tree on it that feels resilient. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, first, imagine holding a little piece of someone’s daily life from so long ago! That tree is fascinating—perhaps an olive or date palm, important to the region. It speaks of prosperity, of life continuing even as empires rise and fall. Doesn’t it make you wonder about the hands it passed through? Editor: It does, actually. Thanks, that's a new way to look at it. Curator: My pleasure. Art, even in miniature, always has a story to tell.