Antoninianus of Probus, Siscia 277 - 282

Editor: This is an Antoninianus of Probus, a coin presumably from his reign. It’s incredible to hold something so old, a piece of currency touched by people long gone. What symbolic weight do you see in this coin? Curator: Coins are fascinating, aren't they? Each symbol, the emperor’s portrait, the deity on the reverse, served as propaganda. Consider the imagery: what does it communicate about Probus's reign, the values he wished to project? The wear itself tells a story of circulation, a physical link to the past. Editor: So, the images are like a language? Curator: Exactly. A visual language understood, hopefully, by all within the empire, a constant reinforcement of power and ideals. What lingers with you after seeing it? Editor: It makes you think about what symbols endure and what we choose to remember. Curator: Precisely. It shows us what a culture valued enough to imprint on something meant to last.