Coin of Ephesos 

Editor: This is a coin of Ephesos, made by Trajan Decius. It seems weathered, almost ghostly. What symbols or stories do you see embedded within its surface? Curator: The coin, though worn, speaks volumes. Notice how the imagery, even in its diminished state, persists. It reminds us that symbols outlive empires, carrying cultural memory. What meaning do you think the ruler intended? Editor: Perhaps power, legacy? But what endures isn't always the intended message. Curator: Precisely. Consider how time and context alter the symbolic weight. This coin, once currency, now represents a lost world, seen through a glass darkly. Editor: It’s fascinating how the coin evolved from a mundane object into a window to the past. Curator: Indeed. It highlights how symbols can shift meanings, reflecting a culture’s changing values and perceptions over centuries.