Coin of Mallos under Antoninus Pius c. 138 - 161

Editor: This coin, minted in Mallos under Antoninus Pius, it’s like holding a small piece of history. What symbols stand out to you, and how do they speak to the culture of the time? Curator: The coin is a potent carrier of cultural memory. What seems like a simple object was, in its time, a symbol of imperial power, of trade, and of the very identity of Mallos. Can you make out the figure on the reverse? Editor: I think so... it looks like a standing figure. Curator: It's likely a local deity, or perhaps an idealized representation of a civic virtue, now veiled by time and wear. The act of placing such imagery on currency broadcasts a message, doesn’t it? Editor: It certainly does. It’s fascinating how much meaning can be packed into such a small object. Curator: Indeed! This coin connects us not only to Antoninus Pius but also to the hopes and beliefs of the people of Mallos.