Coin of Alexandria? under Antoninus Pius c. 2th century

Editor: This is a coin, possibly from Alexandria, dating back to the time of Antoninus Pius. It's weathered, almost unreadable. What stories do you think it could tell? Curator: Coins like this circulated within a vast, complex empire. Their images were carefully chosen to project power, but also to negotiate identities. What messages were they sending to diverse populations? To the subjugated? Editor: So, it's not just currency, but a tool for social control? Curator: Precisely. This coin silently enforced Roman authority, shaping perceptions of who held power and whose voices mattered. The degradation of its surface also speaks to its life in the world, handled and circulated by so many. Editor: It's sobering to think about the weight this small object carried. Curator: Absolutely. Examining it invites us to question the legacies of power, and reflect on how objects both reflect and shape our world.