Coin of Alexandreia under Commodus-Gallienus c. 2th century

Curator: This is a coin of Alexandreia under Commodus-Gallienus, likely dating to the reign of Gallienus in the 3rd century CE. Editor: It's intriguing how much information is etched onto such a small, unassuming material. I'm drawn to the patina; it speaks of time, of slow transformation. Curator: Absolutely, and the coin's production itself would have been a complex process. Consider the labor involved, from the mining of the metal to the die-cutting and striking—all part of the Roman economic engine. Editor: These coins were more than mere currency. They were political tools, carrying the emperor's image into every corner of the empire, and serving as a medium to broadcast power. Curator: We see here the residue of the processes of consumption and exchange that sustained the Roman empire. Editor: The horse, likely a symbol of power or imperial favor, adds another layer of political and social messaging to this piece. Curator: Examining the material composition and production methods reveals a great deal about the economics of the Roman period. Editor: It's amazing how such a commonplace object has been transformed by history into something so evocative.