Coin of Tarsus under Commodus c. 177 - 192

Editor: This is a coin from Tarsus, minted under Commodus. One side shows a portrait, the other a temple. The coin is aged and worn. What can you tell me about this artifact? Curator: The materiality of this coin speaks volumes. Consider the extraction of the metal, the labor involved in minting it, and its function in the economy and trade networks of the time. How does that inform our understanding of Roman power? Editor: So it's less about Commodus and more about the system that produced this object? Curator: Precisely. The coin reveals the infrastructure, the exploitation of resources, and the social hierarchies inherent in the Roman Empire's production and consumption. Fascinating, isn’t it? Editor: I see your point, the everyday tells us more than a portrait. Thanks!