Sestertius of Maximinus I c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have a Sestertius of Maximinus I, a bronze coin minted to honor the Roman Emperor himself. Editor: It's incredible how this small, worn object carries such weight. I feel transported back to the sheer force of the Roman Empire just by looking at its rough edges and weathered surface. Curator: The formal composition places Maximinus' portrait on one side and a symbolic figure on the other, embodying power and legitimacy. Note the inscriptions, meticulously etched, they served to disseminate his image and authority. Editor: I'm struck by the contrast between the idealized image of power and the reality of its creation – the brute force, the sweat, the political maneuvering that went into minting even this one coin. It’s a heavy piece. Curator: Indeed, it is. Each line, each curve, tells a story of an empire striving for permanence. Editor: Makes you wonder, what stories will our coins tell someday?