Sestertius of Commodus 

Curator: Here we have a sestertius, a Roman bronze coin, created under the reign of Commodus. Editor: It's incredible to think this small object once held such material and symbolic weight. You can practically feel the labor involved in minting it, even now. Curator: Absolutely. The coin served not only as currency but also as propaganda. Commodus, the artist here, used it to project his image and ideals, reinforcing his power through mass production. Editor: Right, look at the patination on the bronze; it speaks of age and use, the very hands it passed through shaping its current texture. Was bronze readily available? Curator: Bronze production was central to Roman power, feeding both its economy and military. This coin reminds us that Commodus's reign, despite its excesses, was built on the backs of laborers and resources extracted from across the empire. Editor: It makes you think about what materials are central to power today. That's an important point, thank you.