Antoninianus of Tetricus I 270 - 273

Curator: Well, first impressions, this Antoninianus of Tetricus I feels like a whisper from antiquity. The copper catches the light like a memory. Editor: It's incredible how much history is etched onto such a small surface, isn't it? Roman coinage is fascinating; each coin a piece of propaganda, really. Curator: Absolutely. Imagine the countless hands that held it! Tetricus I, a rather obscure emperor, wanted to project power, and symbols were his language. What do you glean from these engravings? Editor: I see the wear and tear; it speaks volumes. The image of the emperor feels worn, almost like a metaphor for the empire's decline. It feels like something lost, not just in time, but perhaps in purpose. Curator: I like that-- a tangible, symbolic weight, reflecting not just an object's past but a civilization’s too. Editor: Precisely. It reminds us that even the mightiest empires eventually fade, leaving behind only these tiny echoes.