Coin of Anazarbus under Elagabalus c. 221 - 222

Curator: This is a coin minted in Anazarbus during the reign of Emperor Elagabalus. Editor: The texture is amazing! All those pits and discolorations lend an incredible weight to such a small object. Curator: Indeed. The coin offers insight into Elagabalus’s short but provocative reign. His policies challenged traditional Roman values, particularly around religious practices and gender roles. Editor: I'm struck by the concentric bands of inscription. It creates a visual depth that contrasts with the worn, almost smooth portrait on the obverse. Curator: This coin served as currency, but also as propaganda, circulating images and messages tied to Elagabalus’s persona and his attempt to introduce the Syrian sun god to Roman society. It's tangible evidence of a cultural clash. Editor: Looking at the lines and circles, it's almost like a miniature labyrinth, inviting the eye to wander and discover. The materiality itself—the worn metal—becomes a crucial part of the artwork. Curator: Precisely. The coin is a testament to a period of radical, if short-lived, social experimentation in the Roman Empire. Editor: It makes you wonder who held it, and what they thought of the emperor it represented.