Antoninianus of Claudius II c. 3th century

Curator: Here we have an Antoninianus of Claudius II, a coin from a tumultuous period in Roman history. It weighs just over three grams. Editor: It feels weighty, though, doesn't it? Like holding a small universe in your palm. Dark, worn... but potent with untold stories. Curator: Coins like this were more than just currency; they were propaganda, bearing the emperor's image and messages. This one shows an eagle on the reverse, a symbol of power and divinity in the Roman world. Editor: Eagles, always reaching for the sun. Claudius must have felt he needed a boost from the gods, given the empire was crumbling around him. It's interesting how these symbols persist, how we keep reaching for the same archetypes to express power. Curator: Indeed. And the very material—this base metal alloy—speaks of the economic pressures of the time, doesn't it? A far cry from the gold coins of earlier emperors. Editor: Absolutely. It's like the coin itself embodies the decay of the empire. A tangible reminder that even the mightiest fall. You know, I find myself wondering about the hands this passed through—the hopes and fears it carried. Curator: A fascinating thing to ponder with an artifact like this. I keep thinking about how this coin was made. Editor: Yes, and I am reminded how symbols speak to us across millennia, if we only learn to listen.