Coin of Sardis under Elagabalus 218 - 222

Curator: Here we have a coin dating back to the reign of Elagabalus, Roman emperor from 218 to 222 AD. This particular coin originates from Sardis, a city in ancient Lydia, modern-day Turkey. Editor: The patina alone speaks volumes—a testament to time's relentless touch on this humble object, though I wish I knew the precise alloy and method of striking this object. Curator: Indeed. And notice the classical profile of Elagabalus himself, a study in imperial portraiture reduced to its most essential lines, while the reverse depicts a structure, perhaps a temple, rendered in schematic form. Editor: It's incredible to think about the labor involved, not just in mining the metal, but in the careful crafting of the dies used to strike these coins, which were then circulated to grease the wheels of commerce. Curator: Precisely, this object exists as both artifact and a potent symbol of sovereignty. Editor: A potent symbol crafted by anonymous hands for a controversial figure, revealing more about the Roman economy than Roman aesthetics. Curator: Perhaps, and yet, the coin's formal qualities allow us a glimpse into the emperor's self-fashioning, too. Editor: Fair enough. The object's very existence is steeped in production, circulation, and use and these economic and social contexts are worth considering. Curator: A fitting end to our coin examination.