Antoninianus of Probus, Cyzicus 277 - 282

Editor: Here we have the Antoninianus of Probus, minted in Cyzicus. The coin’s patinated surface hints at a vast history. What stories do you think this little artifact could tell? Curator: It whispers of power, doesn't it? Probus, staring out after centuries, reminds me how empires build themselves on images. See how worn the surface is? Each imperfection is a tiny echo of a transaction, a journey, a moment. Editor: That’s amazing! I never thought about it that way. Curator: It's like holding a piece of the Roman Empire in your hand, a fragment of daily life transformed into art. Coins, after all, were the original mass media, each one a tiny propaganda machine. What a life it must have had! Editor: It’s funny to think of something so small having such a big impact. Curator: Indeed! I think it is lovely to consider the intimacy of it. Almost makes me want to start collecting.